#{ In which I try to make some sense of the messy connections he was given in Canon }

[wheelerpilled]

'forced conformity is killing the kids'

Mike Wheeler ST5 Theory/analysis

So we've all seen the new BTS of Finn Wolfhard on the set of Stranger Things dropped and OH MY GOD. THE DUALITY FROM LAST SEASON.

I have to TRY write about it ATLEAST...because wow I have a lot of potential thoughts, sorry it's once again unstructured, messy, and repetitive but stay with me please!!!!!!!!!!

I've seen ALOT of people happy we're getting s1-2 Mike hair back but guys .....it's not a good thing!!!!!!!!!! Mike is going THROUGH IT.

______________________________________________

In Season 4 it's acknowledged that Mike is finally coming into his own a bit, Eddie says he was wearing 'whatever his mom bought him' when he first came to highschool, but in episode 1 when we see him for the first time in S4, he's clearly been influenced by Eddie and has figured out what style he likes and what he's interested in, he's in a DND club, he's comfortable being known as an uncool nerd, he's growing his hair out (yes I DO believe it's because he idolised Eddie, I have more to say about that in a second)

basically: his hair and his outfits, aswell as pretty much the way he acts in Hawkins (NOT California- he goes back to pretending to be something else) in S4 represents the ideology non-conformity and his sense freedom in this new persona

he doesn't feel lost in highschool anymore, he's doing what he likes with his friends (DnD) and he's proudly wearing his hellfire shirt around school/Hawkins, basically, he's accepting that it's okay to enjoy 'different' things that aren't considered the norm, and it makes him happy, he feels comfortable!

_____________________________________________

But now in Season 5, from the pictures we've seen, it looks like he's fully reverted back into his shell, I guess I understand why tbh I don't blame him:

he comes back to Hawkins after everything and everyone believes he's in a satanic cult- townspeople probably treat him badly and Jason's team mates probably blame Eddie and the rest of hellfire for Jason's 'disappearance' (death). They directly connect him with all the horrible things that have happened to Hawkins as of late

...which is probably what the BTS of them walking towards Mike are about, they probably keep harassing him no matter how he acts and Mike just wants them to leave him alone, let's face it:

High school has probably gone full circle back to middle school for Mike and he's getting bullied/mistreated again. So he feels his only option is to remove himself from Hellfire and become 'normal'.

Hellfire might maybe even be blamed for the gates being opened. Last we heard, the townspeople were hunting down Eddie and the rest of hellfire, and the graffiti on Eddie's grave in the S5 pics shows that he's still very much hated.

Mike probably got harassed by multiple people who don't believe Eddie's dead, or believe Mike was in on it and are out looking for him, or think Hellfire contributed to some satanic ritual causing the 'earthquake' and thus Mike is also a target and it's dangerous for him.

So I think part of the style change and haircut is due to THAT, he doesn't wear his hellfire shirt anymore because he doesn't want any affiliation with the club.

As Finn Wolfhard has said in previous interviews 'mikes just trying to act as normal as possible' so by seperating himself from Eddie/Hellfire and becoming more conventionally 'normal' he won't be treated like an outcast.

He won't be assaulted, bullied, blamed, or worse if he conforms. He has a greater chance of everything becoming better/easier while living in Hawkins if he does this, he might have even given up DnD aswell- so yeah he's gonna be pretty MISERABLE in season 5

___________________________________________

Alot of people wanted to see his reaction to Eddie's death, I think we'll definitely be seeing the lingering after effects of it, and alot of Mike's arc will kick off because of the aftermath of the vilification of Hellfire.

Only few people know that Eddie died to try protect Hawkins, Eddie was a role model for Dustin and Mike, but they're grieving him in COMPLETELY different ways

Dustin decides to honour him by taking up a similar style and proudly wearing his hellfire shirt, and is also probably trying to sway the town's opinion on Eddie and prove him innocent.

....But Mike seemingly decides that he DOESNT want to end up like Eddie anymore: dead and hated, known as a satanic freak.

Someone he idolised is now deceased, he doesn't know how to properly handle that fact, it's intimidating that someone he looked up to do much could be so hated, and in turn has caused the reaction from Mike that is basically 'if my idol is treated as such a horrible outcast, and I wanted to follow in his footsteps, where would that leave me?' he's feeling lost and hopeless, especially with the state Hawkins is in, so he probably decides the best thing to do is just blend in. Be normal.

It probably scares him that even merely his interest in DnD and all these other factors immediately make him a target, as far as townspeople believe- Mike is one of the kids who was close with a brutal serial killer, they probably think he's just as 'messed up as Eddie the freak was' for staying friends with someone who'd do such horrible things

I think Mike just wants to hide as much as he can right now, he has ALOT on his plate and doesn't need the rest of the town out to get him.

so if anyone asks: he'll probably say things like 'I didn't really know Eddie! I would never join a cult like that, I didn't know!' or something to try seperate his name from the hellfire club.

Mike will end up picking protecting himself and hiding his true identity and values/traits rather then living exposed and vulnerable; yet true to what he actually believes is right....And that is the opposite of what Dustin is doing,

Dustin is a proud hellfire member and friend of Eddie, he's picking what he thinks is right over self-preservation from the town, he's still wearing his battered shirt, now HE'S the one growing his hair out, he still adores Eddie and misses him (so does Mike probably, but he feels he CANT outwardly publicly show support or stand up for him)

I do wonder if this will cause some sort of tension between Dustin and Mike, because Dustin is doing the opposite and becoming more like Eddie instead of distancing himself from the hellfire name, he might feel betrayed that Mike 'gave up' on Hellfire, and maybe accuse him of not even caring about Eddie or his death?? Idk!!!!!!!!!! I feel like Dustin will also be going through it this season 😭😭😭

_____________________________________________

I do also think Mike will try to be clinging alot to El this season (I mean, before they inevitably break up which I believe will probably happen kinda early on if it actually happens at all)

this is also because just the idea of having a girlfriend corresponds to his idea of conformity and being 'normal'. He just wants to be a normal guy, his life is nothing out for the ordinary, he's not interested in satanic things like dnd and hellfire, he's just a normal person. A normal person who is PROBABLY a target of Vecna in season 5 😓

I believe his arc for this season will be trying to breakout of these notions of conformity in exchange for things he actually likes and is interested in, we saw him sort of branching out in season 4, but I think THIS time it's happening for real, and he'll end up fully embracing his own views and interests after some sort of emotional arc-which will also probably be part of the M*lev*n break up (not censored because I'm against them/hate them I just don't wanna clog the tag for others 😭😭) OR set off by the breakup

Throughout season 1 he was told he liked El, or others assumed it, so I think he assumed it aswell, they just never broke up because El ALSO thinks having a boyfriend is normal and expected, and because Mike was the boy she was closest to she assumed it was romantic feelings (and he kissed her in S1 which probably contributed to her assuming they were romantic feelings)

Alot of the people around her are also in relationships, and she watched alot of TV with happy romantic couples so she thinks it's more normal to HAVE a boyfriend then to NOT have one, I think Mike and El kinda stayed together because they think they're SUPPOSED to by these social standards,

They obviously care about each other alot, and mistook it as reasons to just stay together, she wants to be a normal girl because only being a superhero isnt good for her, she needs to be 'Jane Hopper' and not '011'. I do think she definitely needs to be single for awhile and find herself, even if her and Mike are to be endgame, she NEEDS at least some time to gain some experiences outside of living her life as a superhero, (Mike also needs character development outside of being 'Els Boyfriend's)

Which is why it was vital that her time with max in S3 existed, so El could realise her value and that there is a life outside having a boyfriend- I think Mike needs a similar moment aswell, a wake-up call of sorts where he can take a step back and consider maybe rather than letting society dictate his actions, he makes decisions for what he wants for himself ('we make our own rules')

_____________________________________________

If m*lev*n is endgame then sure that's great for them, but I genuinely don't know what big character arc could be in store for Mike that doesn't involve a breakup and themes of non-conforming, it doesn't even have to involve Byler endgame at all (although I AM a byler truther)

I think Mike learning that it's okay to let go of that romantic relationship if he doesn't feel that way anymore is a big step for his character, or atleast taking a break so he can work on himself, anything along those lines of actual development on himself rather then on his relationship- El and Mike have been romantically paired from the start, he needs to learn that it's OKAY to breakup with someone if thats what he feels is right, (side note: I DO believe El would/will be the one to breakup with him 😭)

I don't think he realises that he'll be able to stay friends with El, it's not 'shes my girlfriend or else she'll hate me for breaking up with her. No other options'

he doesn't want to lose her because he cares about her but he can't find a way to balance that romantic relationship alongside his other friendships. So I think for his character to develop they have to breakup, even temporarily, but obviously that's only my opinion if M*lev*n is endgame then oh well, it's endgame, but I think they would be a really awesome platonic duo and I'd like their relationship alot more if it was that way

______________________________________________

I think later in the season he'll realise that living this way not actually what he wants, and he doesn't want to give up who he is, or pretend to be something he's not- because he IS a nerd who likes DnD, and he does support Eddie, he cared alot about him because he idolised him, and i think season 5 is about him learning that that's okay and he doesn't have to feel so much pressure to conform by societal standards, bro needs a better grief process, forced conformity GOT HIS ASS 😭😭😭

What I'm trying to say is: all of this, and his new look is a safety net of sorts, he's still pretending to be something he's not because he feels he HAS to, otherwise it's dangerous for him in Hawkins because of hellfires reputation, but he's also acting this way because of other factors that I haven't really thought through yet LMAO

I believe season 5 will probably be him accepting those things about himself and embracing it, maybe also undoing his emotional repression along the way, I guess I would describe it as coming of age and I think if it's handled well it could be really beautiful in a way

OH MY GOD I RAMBLED SO MUCH AND IT ISNT EVEN A SOLID THEORY JUST A COLLECTION OF THOUGHTS😭

Sorry that was long and repetitive but uhhhhhhhhhhhh yeah..........anyways Mike Wheeler ily keep ur head up king please don't die in S5‼️‼️ stay safe‼️‼️

[henrysglock]

Local Man Uses The Cyclical 27-Year Torment Nexus To Try And Change His Fate [EPIC FAIL COMPILATION]

You probably guessed that this is the time-travel post I've been slaving over. You'd be right. This is the newest and most formal iteration of my long-standing time loop theory (I have drafted flowcharts back from February that actually predicted a dimension/time fuckery event in 1943 in relation to Brenner, which was made canon by TFS). So...Let's just dive right in. Note: I'm planning to keep calling TFS Henry "Henry" here just for simplicity's sake.

Now, fair warning: There are a few big "bear with me"s in this post. I promise they make sense, I just need you to hear me out.

It all started with Henry's self-proclaimed superhero name: The Stardust Spider.

Some of you may have seen my original post about The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders from Mars (here).

Before anyone says "Oh, but that album didn't exist yet", a reference in 1959 about a Bowie album that wouldn't be recorded until November of 1971 is in keeping with TFS's habit of directly referencing things from the '70s that "don't exist yet".

However, all that aside, there's a specific piece I want to return to, because it bugs the living daylights out of me.

There was a cut song that was meant to go on the album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders from Mars titled "Shadow Man":

For obvious reasons in relation to Henry in The First Shadow, this song already stuck out.

Specifically, though, these few stanzas hit me weirdly:

You should call and see who answers For he promises to come running Guided by the truth For the Shadow Man is really You Look in his eyes and see your reflection Look to the stars and see his eyes He'll show you tomorrow, he'll show you the sorrows Of what you did today You can call him foe, you can call him friend You should call and see who answers (see who answers) For he knows your eyes are drawn to the road ahead And the Shadow man is waiting 'round the bend ('round the bend) Shadow man is waiting up ahead

The Shadow Man is you from the future. He's waiting up ahead to show you the the truth/the consequences of your actions.

Considering that the TFS version of Young "Henry" has a direct connection to both the Shadow and Dimension X from a young age, and he also experiences what seem to be Vecna-type visions, this becomes particularly interesting to me...Especially seeing as said fates are not only possible for future "Henry", but also canon for future "Henry". (See: Vecna guy vs Mindflayer guy)

So, when I see an almost comical number of lines in TFS relating to rewriting known, undesirable endings (here are a few of my favorites):

And when we revisit some of the on-film classics:

I start to think it's time we revisit the concept of time-travel and trying to change your own fate.

It's always hard to know where to start with posts like these, so I'm going to kick things off with the technical aspect: The Cycle.

Something I've talked about in the past year, mostly on Discord, is this concept of a time loop. Not just any old time loop, though. A 27 year cycle, specifically.

Not 20, not 30...

Now, we all know the TFS timeline is messy as hell and doesn't actually align with anything that's possible in filmed canon...or within its own time span, even.

For example, the attack on Mr. Newby happens both some point after October 1st, 1959 and before November 20th, 1959...but the papers for the incident report it on March 20th, 1958:

The timeline we're given also largely fabricated, as I pointed out in relation to the newspapers with dates that don't actually exist.

However, much like NINA, the sequence itself being fake doesn't mean the events didn't happen. It's just not happening in the time frame we're told it's happening in:

It's a set of real events, just portrayed on a different time scale.

So, with all that in mind, I want to lay out a timeline, starting from Season 4 and moving backwards in time:

— Vecna opens the rifts, and El opens a gate to Dimension X in NINA, both in 1986. The March 1959 Creel Murders occur exactly 27 years before the Rifts and NINA's Dimension X gate open in 1986...at which point the Mindflayer is shown to be active.

— Mothergate opens through to Dimension X at some point between November 1983 and October 1984, this being somewhere between 16-28 months prior the Rifts opening. The paper about the attack on Mr. Newby, dated March 20th, 1958, is released exactly 610 days, or 20 months, prior to the Creel murders on November 20th, 1959. It's not necessarily the exact dates that are important here (again, these dates are relatively unreliable), but the gap between the dates.

When put in accordance with filmed dates (i.e. setting the release of this paper exactly 610 days prior to March 22nd of 1959), the paper for the attack on Mr. Newby would have been released on July 20th, 1957. This would be in line with Edward Creel's move to Hawkins in the spring of 1957...while also occurring 27 years before July of 1984, at which point Mothergate is open, and the Mindflayer is active.

This July date is especially funny to me considering we get "throwaway" lines like this...with shots in filmed canon from summertime:

Top: Joyce and Jim beginning their investigation into the attic attack. Hopper Sr. is questioning why Joyce and Jim are investigating, rather than attending school. Bottom: Alice and Henry with the rabbit death scenes in filmed canon, the setting showing full foliage and both children in summer clothing. "Is it summer break?" I don't know. You tell me, Chief.

Per TFS, Henry went missing in a cave system near his home town of Rachel, Nevada (hold that thought) at some point in the year prior to the attack on Mr. Newby. We've been told that Dimension X was involved in this event in Nevada, something happened there that left "Henry" altered physically. He was also flayed at some point around this time.

This all coincides with Henry's dramatic mood shift from a "normal and good" boy to one suffering from Mindflayer-induced psychosis. This change happened in tandem with the Nevada incident, dating back 10 months prior to the attack on Mr. Newby:

If we set Henry's initial disappearance in line with filmed canon like before, it becomes September of 1956, which is just over 27 years before Will's disappearance in November of 1983, at which point we know at least one gate is open.

We also have 1952, at which point TFS Henry would be 7 per his age as a 14 year old/freshman in play canon. This exists in a 27 year interval against 1979, when El opens the original gate that sends One to Dimension X, where he subsequently shapes the Shadow into the Mindflayer.

Here comes the first "hear me out".

My questions are:

Since Henry/Vecna/The Mindflayer/etc. in general don't show any capability for opening gates before 1986, then how the hell is the Mindflayer possessing anyone in 1959?

How did "Henry" get involved with Dimension X in Nevada in the 1950s?

Unless, by some chance:

Dimension X exists all the time simultaneously (i.e. it's a space outside time)

The gates exist simultaneously across time and space in the Right Side Up in 27 year intervals. By which I mean: A gate that opens in, say, 1983 would exist simultaneously in 1956, so on an so forth.

There's the disappearance of Captain Brenner and the USS Eldridge in 1943, which would, interestingly enough, align with 1970, the supposed year of El's conception.

Then, 1952. Now, I'm not sure what's special about 1952, when TFS "Henry" was 7, because they don't actually say what happened to make that year important! They make a point to show it to us, though, meaning something happened...we just don't know what. All I can say is that 1952 does exist in a 27 year interval against El's 1979 gate. Hold that thought.

Those addressed, let's fast-forward 4 years: 1956/1983.

Now, to be fair, there is some uncertainty in my mind about whether this specific gate incident stems from Brenner's involvement with Project Rainbow in Nevada pre-1957*, or if it stems from Mothergate in 1983, or if they created some kind of wormhole between the two locations 27 years apart...but that's a concept I need to explore more thoroughly in a another post.

In short, though: Did a singular El open a singular Mothergate? Did El open mothergate? Did Mothergate actually open on November 6th, 1983...or are we just supposed to assume it opened the same night Will went missing/the demogorgon came through? We're never given a concrete date for when Mothergate actually opened.

* In TFS, Brenner claims he's dedicated his life post-1943 to Project Rainbow with the goal of finding Dimension X, and that he's doing so in pursuit of knowledge regarding the circumstances of his father's death in connection with the Philadelphia Experiment. The USS Eldridge, Brenner Sr.'s ship, disappeared into Dimension X briefly on October 28th, 1943. "Brenner Sr." was the sole survivor. "He" returned to the Right Side Up with a completely unique blood type, supposedly altered by his travels into Dimension X. This is what ultimately led to him succumbing to his injuries, due to his body rejecting all forms of blood transfusion. Brenner Jr. tells us that about 10 months prior to Henry's first stay in HNL, a scientist from Project Rainbow escaped Brenner's lab carrying a container of a dangerous material, and ended up near the same Nevada cave system Henry disappeared into. We don't know how or when this material was collected, or what it was, but we know they found Henry's Captain Midnight spyglass next to a body (identity unspecified) with no trace of that dangerous material. We get no further detail about the Nevada Disappearance.

Anyway, someone opens a gate in the fall of 1956 and/or 1983 (my money's on it being directly linked to an El in 1983 either way). No matter who did it, though, someone opened a gate at both time points, showing us this 27 year link between the 2 dates, 2 key locations.

"Henry" goes missing in Nevada in 1956, and ends up involved with Dimension X...Which aligns with the choice of song surrounding this version of the Creel family while they move into their new home:

Coincidentally, 27 years in the future, so does Will, in Indiana. Their experiences are linked across those two spaces via that 27 year period.

We know that regardless of the gate in Nevada...Mothergate, at least, stays open until from fall 1956/1983 to fall 1957/1984. That covers exact time frame that the adjusted dates for both Henry's accident with the boy in Nevada and his accident with Mr. Newby fall in (as well as Will's time between his disappearance and his flaying).

The closer we get to Will's flaying in 1984, and the closer the Mindflayer gets to crossing through Mothergate, the more TFS Henry sounds like One (post-1979) while he's possessed in 1957, the more strangely he behaves in general (almost as though the Mindflayer is more enmeshed in his everyday life/closer to the surface), and the stronger the possession attempts seem to become overall. He begins giving nightmare visions to other people, namely tormenting Virginia with spiders and her past. He has his final and most powerful "Vecna" vision on the night of the attack on Mr. Newby.

Any kind of reciprocal gate irt Mothergate in the '50s would have gone unnoticed, since the papers in TFS indicate that HNL wasn't established until Brenner showed up to take Henry in.

Mothergate closes briefly, only for a gate to open in July 1958/1985 in the underground location of the future Starcourt Mall. This, in 1958, is during our unaccounted-for 20 months between the attack on Mr. Newby and the Creel murders. (Something rattles about this and the scene where Henry nearly makes full contact with the Mindflayer, when he has a handful of duplicate lines re: his 4.07 monologue self, but I don't have sufficient evidence to make that claim with any certainty.)

That gate closes, until Vecna opens gates in Hawkins in March of 1986, and El opens a Dimension X gate briefly and simultaneously in both Hawkins/Nevada in September of 1979 (September of 1952) and Hawkins/Nevada in March of 1986 (March of 1959) during NINA, concurrently...at least one of which may have gone unnoticed, since the Rainbow Room and the surrounding labs seems to have been abandoned entirely after 1979, and HNL as a whole has once again been abandoned after the events of 1984 ("unnoticed" and "abandoned", I say as if the building isn't still being surveilled by Brenner/Owens et. al...I just mean that the building isn't in use by the government at that point in time.)

We're shown the Shadow activating all the way in Russia due to one or multiple of these events. 27 years earlier, in March of 1959, the Mindflayer once again becomes active, per TFS's adjusted dates. Chaos ensues.

At this point, "Henry" starts swapping between sounding like his young self and sounding like his 4.07 Monologuing Adult self again, doing that kind of "I've seen the future" foreshadowing talk with Joyce that his visions did with him:

Here, he also sounds distinctly like ST3 flayed Billy, specifically in the way of the scene with El in the cabin when "Billy" outlines the Mindflayer's plans for her, her friends, and all of Hawkins while crying.

The rest is, well...history. Whatever fuckery went on, it doesn't seem to have made much of a difference. After all, TFS is a "canon event", meaning it had to end the way it did.

Remember those thoughts I asked you to hold?

TFS being a "canon event" means it had to end with Henry in the lab alongside baby El...thus completing our loop, which starts again with the events of 1979/1952. A 27 year loop. TFS may be indicative of a time loop.

Hence:

Out of place dates from the 1970s start to bleed into the 1950s: - A town like Rachel, Nevada, which wasn't established until 1978, now exists circa 1952-1959 after El opens a gate to Dimension X circa 1979 in Nevada circa 1986 via NINA, which exists...about 40-50 miles from Rachel.

- An album like Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars (November, 1971) or a song like "Chuck E's In Love" (April, 1979) gets referenced circa 1957-1959. - An article about a "younger, more handsome" alien clone of Elvis appears in a 1959 Weekly Watcher paper about the Creel murders, despite Elvis having been 24 at the time...making this an article more likely to have appeared in the '70s or later, likely sometime around Elvis' death in 1977.

2. The Shadow is always depicted as the fully formed Mindflayer circa 1956-1959, despite the shaping event happening in the 4 years between 1979-1983:

3. Henry has Vecna-type visions, despite being the only vision-giver we know of circa 1957-1959.

4. 6 different guys later in the HNL massacre: 2 with the original baby El, 2 with teen El via NINA, and 2 in an as-of-yet unseen product of NINA's Loop (see: the final scene of TFS).

All this laid out, some questions remain:

Why do Henry's visions show him the genuine, terrifying reality of his future?

Why are these visions generally lacking in coercion?

Why are Vecna chime sounds heard before the major supernatural events that deal with visions, even though we never actually see the clock? (They're heard before Virginia in the attic, before the attack on Mr. Newby, before the Creel murders, and in the basement when Henry monologues at Joyce while viewing the corpses of his family.)

Why don't these chimes play when the Mindflayer alone is present, e.g. when no visions occur? (See: Henry contacting the Mindflayer in the lab)

And we don't really get an answer to any of these. Not an easily spotted outright answer, anyway.

But what's really fascinating, which I mentioned just a second ago and takes me back to the top of this post, back to the "Stardust Spider" and Shadow Man, is the fact that despite occurring concurrently with the possession attempts...none of these visions contain an ultimatum. There's no "If you don't obey me, I'll hurt someone you love", no "I'm showing you what's going to happen if you don't obey me", nothing of the sort.

The closest we get to coercion is the bathroom vision, when Henry fights off a possession attempt in the school bathroom and ends up in a vision regarding Patty. When "Patty" starts to talk to him about his future, about how Henry's going to kill her and so many others, Henry says "you're not Patty...what are you?" Then he gets into a physical brawl with her, which is surprisingly well matched. Vision Patty encourages him during that fight, saying things like "That's it!", "We want the same thing!", and "We can have her!"

Those seem like pretty straightforward "the Mindflayer's encouraging Henry to kill" encouragements, right?

Yeah, at first glance. However...lets read that back right quick, but with Moral Objectivity Goggles on this time. Henry openly, verbally identifies that Vision Patty is "not her, not Patty", but is, in fact, something else. He does this multiple times before he lunges at "not Patty", and he is subsequently encouraged by not-Patty...who tells him they want the same thing. That's not suspicious at all. The motives here are definitely crystal clear and totally aren't conflicting in any way.

There's the straightforward surface aspect, and then something else piggybacking on it, complicating it. Hold that thought.

Other than that instance, the negative parts of Henry's visions are all just...information. They're showing him what will come to pass...almost like they're motivating him to fight the Mindflayer. Hold onto that thought too, it buddies with the previous one.

Henry's freaking out about Prancer because he's getting close with Patty, and he's worried he'll hurt her?

His vision informs him that he's going to kill more, that he's going to hurt things, that he's going to kill Patty if he stays around her and/or gives into the Mindflayer's desires. And then it happens. All of it. He kills more animals. He hurts things and people, the pets and lab animals, Mr. Newby, and Inmate 58361 being prime examples. He gives in to the Mindflayer's desire to kill and kills Virginia. He does, by the extent of his perception, kill Patty in the accident.

The same goes for his vision in the attic. Henry's up in the attic using his powers to find someone/snoop on them, fearful of opening himself up for a possession attempt?

The vision version of Patty's mother catches Henry and tells him she "wants to tell him a secret" while his body is being puppeted to attack Mr. Newby. The next time the curtain rises to show us the inside of Henry's mind, he's seeing himself as Vecna, strung up on the tentacles and strangling people with them...just like the end of Season 4. Once again, he's seeing the future that will come to pass...should he fail to fight the Mindflayer off.

We can tell it's a vision, not what's physically happening in reality, because: a) Henry's watching himself in the attic from the stage below. b) It's got the messed up red lighting c) They show us reality just moments before, not a tentacle in sight and without Henry on the stage there observing:

d) The ending of the vision doesn't match with reality:

At the end of this vision, Henry passes out both in the void and IRL, while the vision version of Henry remains crouching. That is a different guy, entirely separate from IRL/Void Henry. There is at least one other person in the visions who is not a product of the vision itself.

Remember those thoughts from a bit ago that I asked you to hold?

Well. This also happens to be the sequence where we not only get Vision-Patty repeating Henry's own words from just after Prancer's death ("It's not real. It's not real. It's a nightmare") back to him, a phrase IRL Patty has never heard, but we also get:

Visions Patty telling Henry how to fight and evade the possession, as if she knows what she's doing ("It's your dream, remember? Anything is possible").

Vision Patty telling Henry she loves him as the last-ditch effort when his "good dream" memory of the real Patty fails to save him from the possession.

These are both things IRL Patty wouldn't know or think to say, since IRL Patty fully believed that Henry attacked her of his own volition out of malice, and she needed to be shown a drawing of the Mindflayer by Mr. Newby in order to abandon that belief.

IRL Patty's behavior is not the behavior of someone who a) knows the ins and outs of Henry's situation with the Mindflayer, and b) coached him through overcoming a possession attempt a little while earlier. It's just not.

Just like before, we're seeing contradictions and complications between vision-selves and IRL selves, along with a sense of piggybacking within possession attempts, wherein the vision serves as motivation for Henry to fight harder in resistance to the Mindflayer...while the Mindflayer is possessing him.

It's starting to become my favorite thing in the world: A pattern of behavior.

In summary:

Henry's are visions are visions of his future, and they're being shown to him by someone.

They are separate from, but piggybacking on, the Mindflayer's possession attempts.

The purpose of the visions isn't solely to torment Henry or coerce him into doing the Mindflayer's bidding. In fact, the content of the visions seems curated to make Henry fight harder in resistance to the Mindflayer.

So if, for example, Vision Patty ≠ IRL Patty, but she's acting against the Mindflayer's best interest/in support of Henry...then...

I think my answer to the questions of "who", "when", and "how" should be at least somewhat clear by this point:

Someone...from the future.

Specifically, someone from 1979-1986 who has access to the gates from the Dimension X side, someone with both vision-giving and time-related abilities who's directly connected to the Mindflayer/the Hive Mind, but who has a vested interest in countering the Mindflayer, saving Henry Creel, and trying to change the course of the future.

A traitor. A spy, if you will.

"A spy...from the future?"

[gestures at the Signs] Yeah, you heard me.

A spy from the future.

So, on that note: The point in this section wherein I ask you to hear me out.

I get the feeling TFS Henry is being told and/or shown what will come to pass in the future by himself...the Mindflayer.

And you're probably going "How do you figure that one, James? Isn't the Mindflayer a villainous force?"

I mean, yeah. Of course it is. However...

There are clearly multiple forces at play within the Mindflayer (hive mind!), and TFS shows us that Henry Creel wouldn't choose to be a villain.

Thus I think the visions in TFS are situations where, as in the 4.07 rabbit scene, things look really damning on first view. They play on our empathy using small, visibly-frightened, helpless victims and shocking, violent circumstances to guide us into making the assumption that everything about the situation is inherently malicious.

We're shown this poor little guy, "Henry". He's 14 years old, he clocks in at 5'5", he's skittish/scared of (ha) his own shadow, and he's geeky to the nth degree about comic books (just LOOK at that Captain Midnight salute? What an cute little nerd). He's immediately lovable. He's also, we find out rather abruptly, plagued by horrific visions and murderous fits of possession.

The immediate response is to go "He's being psionically tortured by some sick, sadistic son of a bitch who hungers for nothing but blood and control", just like Nancy and the ST fandom collectively did with Young Henry's rabbit scene...only to be proven wrong about Henry's intentions via TFS.

I mean, does anyone (anyone who's able to read this post, anyway 🤭) look at TFS Henry, filmed Young Henry, or even Orderly Henry and go "Yeah. He totally wanted what he got, and if he had the chance, he definitely wouldn't try to save himself from that fate"?

No.

TFS Shows us that "Henry" was a terrified, traumatized boy who wanted it all to stop. He's kind, brave, and stronger than he seems. We're also shown that he's capable of overcoming the Mindflayer to issue warnings to people he cared about (i.e. telling people to run, or prophesying dangers he'd seen via the visions). He was trying to survive with next to no help while causing as little harm as possible. He was a good kid, and he certainly wasn't evil.

So, all that said...I think that, via the Shadow's hive-mind capabilities, Henry's "fronting", in a manner of speaking, in order to show this version of himself the future. Probably as a warning, probably as motivation to fight the Mindflayer, and all with a nice side-dish of "here's how you fight this thing off so that my current future doesn't become our future" before someone else tapes over the figurative laptop camera.

[coughs, drops this Brenner-Mindflayer collage on the table in front of you, and then scurries away]

With that said, I'd like to loop all the way back to the top of this post: The "Shadow Man" may be Henry from the future. He's waiting up ahead to show his younger self the true outcome of his choices.

We all know how TFS ends, though. Hence:

[EPIC FAIL COMPILATION]

This brings me to my final "bear with me" point: The matter of the strange double-agent vibes from the UD in every season.

I'm not sure if anyone else outside the unholycule has noticed this, but in every season there's at least one instance of the UD just...offering up information.

"It does?"

Yup! Let me explain.

On first glance, we look at things like Nancy's vision and even El's vision with Billy in the cabin, and we go "Oh, it's because [insert "the bad guy's cruel/he wants to scare her/his hubris will be his downfall/all serial killers want to be known for their crimes" etc here]"...but maybe that's not the case.

For example: Vecna told Nancy his backstory, and then he immediately went

"Oh hey, so not only am I revealing my identity (Which may help you find out more about me via lab records later on, things like...maybe a list of my abilities, or my weaknesses, like the fact that I have a nut allegry. Allegedly.), but I'm also gonna give you a sneak peek of my apocalypse plans. For free. As a treat. Don't use these to prepare or anything. I'm totally not giving you a head start".

Terrifying, yes. A taunt and a threat on surface view, yes...but also showing his hand. "I want you to tell Eleven everything you see" Why. Why would he want that. He may be confident in his plans, arrogant, even...but he's not that stupid.

I'm serious, though. Check it out in comparison to Henrys visions of the future. The pattern is patterning:

We can track that back to El's cabin scene with Billy, wherein he tells her she shouldn't have looked for him, warns her that they all can see her, and that they're going to be coming after her...and he cries about it. That's vision Billy. That's someone else who piggybacked into El's mind from Billy's mind. That's not real Billy, just like how Billy in Max's vision wasn't the real Billy. The person giving El that vision warns her. Why on earth would he tell her that they can see her, that they're coming for her? That's sensitive information! It would be smarter to let her think she's safe and use that false sense of security to catch her off guard.

In fact, this pattern patterns so well that I'd like to argue this: Henry's TFS visions, Nancy's vision, and El's vision are all the same type of behavior displayed in NINA's chess scene, just in different contexts.

Henry ("Henry") gives some kind of scary prophetic information ("He and the others are going to attempt to kill you", "I would very much like to show you where I am going", "You're going to kill me, aren't you?"), and then we're left to question if it's a scare tactic, manipulative misinformation, or helpful inside information.

It's not that the Mindflayer or Vecna can't hide things from people (see: "Somewhere he didn't want me to see")...like, say, the fact that the Mindflayer is now able to see El, or that Vecna's planning to open 4 gates with his 4 kills.

It's always this miraculous "Huh! Weird info-dropping behavior from the UD's side. Shouldn't look that gift-horse in the mouth though. It's probably just a writing oversight or a shoehorned exposé, so really there's no need to question it." situation where it's just...information that's offered up with no real explanation.

Some of my favorite examples:

...and it's all topped off with Max's line:

"He's been telling us his plan this whole time".

That is to say...You're telling me:

The first message from the Upside Down isn't any of the messages that are concretely Will's, but instead it's the one that's a repetitive Henry line...and it's conveyed in a distinctly not-Will style? A message that saves Joyce, something that's definitely not in the UD's best interest given her tenacity in finding her boy...but is definitely coming from the UD nonetheless?

Will, who fell total prey to the Mindflayer in less than 3 days, was not only able to figure out how to defeat the Mindflayer, but was also strong enough to convey it in Morse code? The Mindflayer, who is able to keep secrets (see below), just...let that information slip?

El, who acknowledges that the Mindflayer is more than able to hide things from her, is suddenly released into Billy's memories and allowed to find the source unimpeded?

The Mindflayer, as Billy (Remember: not actually Billy, because Billy can't give visions or invade minds), is telling El that because he's able to see her now, she shouldn't have looked for him? The Mindflayer, which was supposedly building the Fleshflayer to track El down and kill her? Suddenly he's telling her she shouldn't have done the thing that allowed him to find her more easily?

Vecna's giving up all the information about himself and his plans before he's even gotten the 4th gate open, despite him being so secretive about it up until that point?

Henry's visions in TFS are going to scare him into resisting the Mindflayer, making it less likely that he's going to upgrade to killing humans, i.e. the very thing the Mindflayer wants him to do?

None of that makes any damn sense...until we hit this last point:

Orderly Henry is known for giving inside information about "Papa" to El with no clear motive other than getting her to leave the lab.

Now, if you know my page then you know Em's been talking about double meanings in phrasing recently (see: this post about "who"s and "what"s).

So, with that in mind, I'd like you to chew on this:

"He's been telling us his plan this whole time." vs "He's been telling us His plan this whole time."

By which I mean: "He's been telling us some other man's plan this whole time."

[Mike voice] Superspy.

As a parting thought, I made it all into a nice, neat set of collages:

Not to mention this final, parting bit:

[chambli]

your anon man saga stresses me out too <3 your post about look at your problems as a team is why i say it. i hope you spend some time not in a relationship. i hope you can learn over time how to find fulfillment with yourself instead of by centering men.

from your posts you seemed to be making breakthroughs and progress on this recently. but then going to visit again / getting back together with anon man happened, which from my outside perspective seems like a backwards step to healing. you are allowed to be messy and entertain us and yourself that way, but it can be dangerous (for example, already led to you getting covid). i know it is not a simple decision to make. best wishes to you.

ok firstly i don't think it's fair to blame him for me contracting covid lmfao like that was a pretty inevitable happenstance given that i spent a lot of time after covid pretty much shut in the house out of fear, and if i knew that i would have contracted covid i probably would have acted the same way, because i think for my own sense of wellbeing etc i need to continue to go out in the world, do things, not necessarily anon man related but if it was not that trip to vienna it would have been something else - like i could easily have got it in berlin, or france, etc. so big no on the covid connection, i don't see it and i really don't blame him/the rship for it

secondly i am def trying to recover my relationship with The World and also myself as an individual regardless of what happens w/ him - i'm not going to stop going to the chess club, or neglect the friendships i have, or stop working, or any of those things, so whilst i fully think i spend too much time thinking/worrying about him i also think that the situation isn't as dire as you're making it sound when you say things like "a backwards step to healing". i could have flown out days ago but i wanted to honour my commitment to the chess men in london and hang out with them there, which i think is basically the healthy option, and it's a choice i did purposely make to not "center him"

i think everyone including me is in two minds about the anon man situation but i think it's not as simple as breaking it off now bc i like him and would like things to work out fundamentally lol. i like being in vienna, i like being w/ him, i like the sex, there's a lot of things that would really suck to lose if i called it off so it's not as simple as me reclaiming my feminine energy or whatever i think the timing of it is awful, i should have had more time on my own, i should have learned strats to cope BEFORE entering into a new [confused mumbling noises]. but i didnt, so now we're here and all i can do at this point i think is to try and heal alongside whatever happens, which i think will be harder than if he wasn't around, but not impossible

will also say what everyone says: tumblr does only give a snapshot into the situation as a whole, altho i think i do put enough on here to give a generally solid overview lol

[lesbianboyfriend]

another nugget to consider for your sexual violence Buffy thesis:

In season 7, episode 8, we find out Spike has been killing and siring people. The official count is 10 women and then just however many men we see in the basement.

obviously the show has compared a vampires bite to sexual violence before so this is an instance where Buffy has given a second chance to the man who tried to rape her and there are now 10 dead women around him. And Buffy gives him another chance even after that.

in the story, he doesn't know what he's doing and is being influenced by the first evil but I think there's still a lot of messy messaging in how Buffy keeps this man alive despite his body count. She can forgive him all she wants but he repeatedly demonstrates how he is a danger to the women around him

okay you’re so right. spike occupies such a massive place within the sexual violence thesis. he’s the character that looms the largest as someone the audience is supposed to like while also being explicitly named as a perpetrator of sexual violence. + the whole vampirism as sexual predation thing is like, a key part of the thesis

now i think the scenario with season 7 is kind of like i mentioned in the original sexual violence post, spike has a soul now. ergo, he cannot (by the show’s logic) still be a perpetrator of such violence bc he’s #good now. and of course, there is the first evil to be reckoned with as a factor in it. which is i think where they get back to the, “see, the sexual violence this guy did was because of some intrinsic monstrous evil” once again cementing sexual violence in the realm of monstrosity instead of actually grappling with it.

to be honest this is where i think angel season 5 ALMOST did something really interesting with spike. we know that angel as a person and tv show operates under the realm of, trying to make up for what you did as a vampire despite the fact that it “wasn’t their fault” so to say. it reckons with those acts of (sexual) violence as something intrinsically horrible regardless of “fault”and asks the perpetrators to truly reckon with their actions and past…..kind of. as we’ll see

and like, spike’s whole thing is that he only really became good because of buffy. and he thinks because of that he intrinsically “deserves” buffy (which is a whole nother level connected to sexual violence as system imo). and BECAUSE he has a soul, he doesn’t actually have to grapple with what “good” means, because that’s not how it works in the buffy moral universe. but then angel season 5 separates him from buffy. and asks him to be good WITHOUT reward. WITHOUT the promise of buffy. particularly with him as a ghost, only able to manipulate the world if he wants it enough. and we see him “wanting” it in moments where he’s trying to do good!!! just for good’s sake!!!

……and then they reintroduce the fucking shansu prophecy and spike compares his/angel’s atrocities to a scared girl lashing out at her oppressors and they go to rome and try to separate buffy from her new boyfriend and all over again we see him (and angel!!!!) still having that sense of ownership over buffy, that they somehow “deserve” her for being good. and that while they may be reckoning with their pasts for being “bad” they don’t actually fully understand the system of (sexual) violence that their actions took place within. so they don’t understand or grapple with how they’re still upholding those systems. so kind of a flop there!!! but for a brief second i thought angel season 5 was doing something really cool. should have known better i guess

but yeah saying this all as a spike fan. an enjoyer of spikebuffy. the narrative does NOT at all reckon with his position as perpetrator of sexual violence and honestly the show and his character arc suffer for that. and quite frankly the fans who refuse to acknowledge it as part of his character are deeply annoying. lol. lmao even

[thespianinthebackcorner]

guys guys guguguguguys. Guys I think I just figured out sonic 06 lore

Ok ok so this has to do with the ending of 06 and the age old question of "where the fuck is Iblis in the current timeline". I think I've figured it out.

Okokok so start with the basics. In Sonic 06, Blaze seals Iblis inside herself and dies. Mephiles goes back in time and fuses with Iblis bedorehand to stop it from happening. After the Solaris bossfight, Sonic and Elise go back in time to kill Solaris. Because I don't think you can just... kill the god of time like that, everything freezes there, and an extant timeline is created a little further back so that things can keep moving.

Since Solaris' death was the trigger for that, it indicates that the main timeline probably can't exist without him in some form. (This might apply to the others, especially considering Movie!Knuckles' flames of disaster, but because Solaris lore is kept under tight lock and key, we might never know.) After that, we didn't know what happened to him- up until Shadow Generations, when it was revealed that Mephiles- one half of the god- was trapped in the White Space the whole time. So that raises the question- where's Iblis? Most people theorise that he's in Blaze's dimension, trapped either in a dormant state within Blaze herself or simply just kept there somewhere away from where he can reunite with Mephiles. That theory relies on the event of Blaze sealing Iblis inside herself during 06- but that makes the timeline messy. The extant timeline was created far back enough that 06 never happened, but somehow Iblis is still inside Blaze or connected to her family line somehow. For that to work, the extant timeline would've had to be created in that future, after Blaze sealed Iblis away. Which is for sure not what happened, given the evidence against it.

However, if Iblis isn't in the White Space and he isn't in Blaze's dimension, then either he's in another timeline entirely- Or he's somewhere in the current timeline sealed away, indicating that the extant timeline was created either during or just after the Solaris Project when everything went wrong. But because Shadow and Silver were there for the Project, and Sonic and Elise killed a whole Solaris, that doesn't make any sense.

So we have a set point that the extant timeline needs to be created at, and the current theories don't quite work. So how can we find a place for Iblis that does work?

Simple. Well, no, not really, but hear me out.

Remember how I said earlier that because Solaris' death was the trigger event for the extant timeline, it likely meant that the timeline couldn't exist without him? We're circling back to that. If both Mephiles and Iblis are in the extant timeline, trapped somewhere (while being outside of time we can still consider Mephiles in the running timeline in a sense) then that would mean Solaris has moved to that timeline and might not be able to exist in the frozen 06 timeline. Yes, he exists in the past present and future all at once, but if the timeline splits into two, who's to say he's still restricted to one? It's possible. To that end, my theory is:

When the timeline moved back and was split, so was Solaris- Mephiles moved into the extant timeline, but was sealed in the White Space surrounding it. If he gets out, he's in the extant timeline, yes, but otherwise he's still sealed away. Iblis, meanwhile, is kept in the frozen 06 timeline- he's there, as a part of Solaris, but everything's stopped, so he can't do anything. That timeline is permanently locked off from entering by anyone (likely other than a full-formed Solaris, or possibly Mephiles since he holds the temporal power).

But why would Iblis be in the frozen dimension, I hear you ask? Because Iblis is more dangerous, of course. Mephiles, as smart and witty and cunning as he is, still has restricted levels of power, and he's smart enough to know that trying to get Iblis back would fuck over the timeline even more than it already has (which also likely affects them too, so it's not worth the risk). Without Iblis there to re-form, he only has so much power, and in terms of changing the timeline, can only make as much change as anyone else can by directly influencing things himself. Essentially, without the possibility of healing and becoming whole once more (my keyboard keeps capitalising Whole send help), he's a lot less dangerous to the timeline and the world, especially since he doesn't have access to that primary motive anymore. Iblis, however, isn't as sentient. He has some intelligence, but not enough to stop him from being the rampaging Flames of Disaster we know from 06. So if you're choosing one to keep in the moving timeline and one to keep frozen, the answer is obvious- keep the half with common-sense logic, emotion, and the capability for a redemption arc in the moving timeline, and keep the near-mindless condensed unchecked power of the sun in the frozen timeline.

Sonic Generations implies (mostly via design, afaik) that the Time Eater is Mephiles' temporal power torn from him by Eggman (unintentionally so) and left to run rampant the same way Iblis was, indicating that both (a) Mephiles in Shadow Generations is purely and entirely the heart and mind of Solaris with just his smoky form and what self-defence powers he has to his name, removed entirely of temporal power, and (b) the Time Eater is essentially what would've happened in 06 if the split had let Mephiles keep the sun-power and what was torn away was the temporal power instead. So it's interesting to see what could've been there, and what happens when Solaris is torn into two a second time (meaning technically it could've been torn into at least three separate entities and the Duke of Soleanna got lucky, actually).

Honestly I don't remember where I was going with that paragraph- I think it was just an extra note. Either way- Iblis is sealed away in the frozen timeline, which is why we've seen nothing about him since 06, because it's the safest way to keep him contained and away from Mephiles.

[veiledfox]

lion-hearth: His brow furrows slightly and he released her tail and crawled over to sit facing her side. "...romantic or not, moping around doesn't suit you Kyuushi..." Octavius sets a hand on her knee. "I want to help you move past this, but I can only do so much...I can't purge your heavy feelings with blade and bolter , I'd try if I could...but know I'm here for you, Little Vixen." Offering a smile at the coy pet name of her's.

She could see him shift over to her side, feel him move with all her various senses. Kyuushi didn't know why, but she felt like she wanted to just... shrink in on herself further. To not be seen, not by him, especially not while she felt like she was in such a horrid pit. Having him behind her, playing with her tail, was one thing. But this... she felt pathetic, it really wasn't like her, yet at the same time... none of the past few years was like her. Not with how she was most her life.

From a Kitsune living alone, traveling to other Realms and making entirely platonic connections, never once having a romantic interest. To suddenly growing to love one Person... whom was Married to another... which she grew to love as well. To having multiple Lovers across the many Realms she traveled, all of whom she loved so dearly. It was all so new, all so unfamiliar, she wasn't ever sure she was doing the right thing or if she was treating them correctly.

But to then lose that initial pair out of the blue... unable to contact or find either of them at all. Another simply just... vanishing, and the mask she had been given no longer working to take her to them. A brief interaction with another still stirring the thought of something possibly forming, only for them to be impossible to find again soon after. Then to have another start speaking of so many dislikes, too many of which matched her entirely, and her upset mood in response to lead to that very same Partner just... cutting things off between them... with such a horrid image of her in their mind as well.

This isn't Kyuushi, that wasn't Kyuushi, none of it has been Kyuushi. A part of her did want to just... turn back time to before it all. Go back to being that lone Kitsune, purely just traveling the Realms for the sake of exploration and discovery. To just being Kyuushi. It'd be a lie to say she didn't want to.

But, all the same... she didn't want to undo any of it. At least, not entirely. She just... didn't want to lose them... doesn't want to lose what's left... Which, with that scare of not being able to find him due to an attempt on his life still somewhat fresh on her mind, and the knowledge that one of his hearts was now inert? It would be impossible for her to say she wasn't scared that it was just a matter of time before he would be gone too.

It was all so unfair to him, though... to wind up shutting herself off and trying to keep some kind of distance while she was still hurting. To be unable to properly respond to him, all because of how horribly she wept for all those she had lost in such short, rapid succession. Even with the trust that he would always be there, a reliable safety she could return to whenever she needed, there was still pieces of worry that this would all wind up pushing him too far away. Even when his words said otherwise.

With... everything... surging through her mind, it would be impossible for her to even just attempt to stop the tear that began to well in her eyes and spill down her cheeks. The illusory text that had hung in the air moving over, flickering as her focus wanes, shifting into a somewhat messy looking "I'm sorry". All the while reaching up to rather desparately try and wipe away her tears, only for more to replace them. Trembling shoulders, breath short gasps and hiccups, the text flickering out entirely.

"I'm sorry..." Her voice, still weak, still quiet, still hoarse and creaky.

[m1st1x]

RUIN Theory! - Escape Plans

Spoilers for all of the RUIN dlc. Buckle up, I’m about to make a controversial theory that no one here will be happy about. …yay. You might’ve heard someone else mention the idea, but I am ready to try and sell it to you.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Ok, I want you to hear me out. What if Security Breach never happened? The idea was first planted into my head by Matpat during on of the GTLive play throughs of RUIN, and since then, a few connections have been made. I just want to share what I think could make this theory make sense.

So first, I decided to look at the Glamrock’s shattered and ruined designs to compare, and I noticed a few little details. One is that Freddy still has the present. Now this could be because he’s the prototype, but I’m not going to immediately write it off because of that. Another thing that everyone noticed is Roxy’s face—it’s completely different, and it has those ports which I assumed are how the eyes attach (but even then, how would they rotate properly? It doesn’t really make sense). Thirdly, Monty didn’t have a sternum piece before RUIN. In Security Breach, there’s just a hole there. And, his tail wires are longer in RUIN, not to mention the fact that they’re bound with cable ties. Given how he acts, I don’t think he would have the insight to install one himself. He also wouldn’t be able to reach back there to tie all of those messy wires up, especially not with how good it looks. So unless someone came down there to fix some of them, I can’t see how they would end up like that. Chica doesn’t seem to have any discrepancies though—there’s nothing that was lost that she now has from what I can see. (Side note: I noticed Monty has a gold tooth, which reminded me of Foxy, specifically the Golden AR plush whose description was “I guess he replaced more than his teeth.” It just struck me as odd.)

Then I looked at and thought about the comic pages. They’re all in fairly random places, but the page with the Burntrap ending is down in one of the rooms with the burners. That’s odd, right? How would Gregory have gotten down there to drop it off? How would he have known about both Burntrap and the Blob? And why is that ending not shown as comic pages in Security Breach? (Who collected those pages and put them together?)

Then I had an idea. People pretty much agree that Vanessa is Vanny, and the theory that Gregory is GGY, or Dr. Rabbit, is out there even if we don’t have too much information to back it. This would mean both are under Glitchtrap’s control, or are at least on his side. What if Gregory (or the Crying Child, if you’ll accept that theory) drew those while being stuck in the Pizzaplex? Like the kind parts of him broke through, whether that be because of a spirit or not, and he sort of fantasized. I know it sounds like a stretch, but hold on. Kids fantasize, especially kids that are being abused. They make up scenarios where they do things that they aren’t able to do, and sometimes the ideas are put onto paper. I mean Gregory has got to have seen all the animatronics while he’s there, and he’s probably got the processing power to figure out how the animatronics would break when faced with certain factors, even if he wasn’t completely right or knowing of how they all looked underneath their suit. He’d also probably be pretty angry at the whole place, except maybe that one character that he really liked for whatever reason—Freddy. He would even know about the animatronic in the basement, which explains why he said that it was trapped down there for a long time and why he knew about the MXES security program. He could’ve even been partially behind it. He’s also probably seen the Blob and Burntrap during his time there, and I’d imagine he hates Burntrap more than most. He knows what he’s done, who he was made by, and/or what he was made for. He’d probably have some beef, so it would make sense why that ending would look better than the others. It’s the one he wants to happen the most. All the animatronics are shattered, the building collapses, and Burntrap dies.

I can hear the questions—but what about the bad endings? Why would Gregory fantasize about those? You have to remember, he’s not stupid (and is he’s a robot, he would be more logical anyways). He would know that Vanny would be sent to find him if he just ran, maybe it even happened once or twice already, and he would know the map of the building, so he’d know the best door to leave from. The Burntrap ending is the only one where we don’t see them actually leave, so they might’ve not even made it in that scenario. It is only that—a scenario. A stupid idea, but it could happen. And even if that isn’t the case, our minds go down bad paths all the time, even if we don’t want them to.

Maybe one of those comics was a plan to try and escape, but something else ultimately ended up happening. Vanessa is with him in the cutout/Brazil ending, so they could’ve escaped together. Maybe with the help of Helpy. It would probably be the most similar to the Princess Quest ending then, with Gregory helping Vanessa snap out of it. This theory would even make sense for why he dropped the elevator (you know, if he was the one who dropped it). “We can’t risk being followed,” he says. That could be talking about him, Vanessa, and/or Charlie/Elizabeth if they’re in the same body, and I understand why he would do anything—even sacrifice a friend—to not go back. To not be found again. The missing posters could’ve been put up by the one controlling (or trying to control) them, which would force them to stay in hiding, leaving Cassie wondering where he went. I’m not sure how they became friends in the first place, but my best guess is that Cassie visited the Plex often, Roxy says that he came for her birthday twice, and they met at some point.

For the Glamrock Freddy backpack near the MXES machine, I believe it’s Gregory’s. He might’ve dropped it on his haste to get out of there, or couldn’t come back to get it when the plan was in motion. And something I did find odd during the normal ending is that the speaker seems to cut out. It has a ringing sound to cut in, and that same noise occurs before Gregory says “it’s not your fault,” and drops the elevator. A popular theory is that it was that animatronic in the basement the whole time, which although I’m not completely with, I feel like it could have some plausibility.

EDIT: there’s “He was our superstar” in yellow graffiti in the beginning, which I feel could either be referencing Gregory, Glamrock Freddy, or even Glamrock Bonnie.

EDIT II: when you’re in the daycare attendant’s room in AR, you can see Roxy, Chica, and Monty in a playhouse, with Roxy being front and center. Sun and Moon sit on a table on opposite sides, kind of overlooking the scene. Moon looks a bit ostracized though, and Freddy is absent from what I’ve seen. The glitch Eclipse/Sun is on the ceiling. Could this be a notion to Freddy being not very liked by the other animatronics, or him not being under the glitch’s hold? It might explain why the prototype doesn’t even show up in AR mode.

EDIT III: I forgot to even mention Gregory’s attitude in the games. He HATES the animatronics, and I feel there’s less fear than there should be. He’s definitely scared for his life, but that isn’t really shown in his actions. He shatters all three without remorse, only caring about Freddy. Meanwhile, Cassie is nice and sympathetic towards them.

EDIT IV: I just realized that the backpack is next to a hole in the wall that Gregory could’ve definitely fit in.

EDIT V: Monty’s endo coloring. In the shattered design, his endo is all this dark grey color, but in the RUIN design, parts of it—namely his jaw and chest—are tan colored. It isn’t the right color for rust, and there aren’t any parts that color in the other animatronics. (You can see the jaw hinge in shattered Monty. It’s definitely that grey, not bronze.)

[canisbeasts-ooc]

psst psst psst do you want to play the fear game with me do you want to do lykoii...

I would love to play! fear games :D.!

Um, disclaimer that this is probably not very..coherent. It’s a lil late and I’m gonna probably ramble (and come up with stuff on the fly, like usual)

It’s. Probably pretty standard and obvious for clurch members (and ex clurch members) but I feel Lykoii, once the game is over- hell, maybe some before that, he’s really scared of being seen as unfaithful. From practical beginning of what he could remember, he’d been with the clurch, following to its doctrines, reaping the blood of its teachings. And given it was such a…messy break from it. He lost his community, his sense of self, his lusus, and so much more in one terrible breath? It’s. A lot on him, frankly. It’d be a lot on anyone, but to someone already so…hard to put into words but gestures vaguely at the already trying so hard to appease his lusus, conform to the clurch to the best of his ability, and the total absence of…really any good support systems. It’s not great. And he feels horribly guilty for it all.

For so long it was all that he’d known, he was supposed to be faithful, he was supposed to be good. And he has his thin rug with the idea of if he does everything right he’ll be fine ripped from under him.

And it kinda..keeps going? He can’t stay loyal or attached to anything for too long while on the run. Anyone or anything he gets a hold of, he can’t stay with for long. He can’t put them in danger, he can’t put himself in danger. Which makes his friendship with Styrss so, unique, for lack of a better term, for both of them. Someone who has refused his anxieties and worries, who kinda spits in the face of the dangers he feels and accepts her fate. Someone who, at this point, has the freedom to do so much, nothing holding her, and yet, stays as she is, kinda letting the world run by her. And given she’s such a pivotal connection to him, both before and after the game, he is really worried about showing that he’s faithful to her, that he cares, that he’s not going to abandon her, even if they don’t see eachother for wipes at a time

This transfers to Calixtus in many ways too I think. He’s honestly just as clingy as they are. He wants to show that he’s there, that he loves them with his whole heart and he’s not going anywhere, that despite everything that’s happened, that Calixtus is always going to have someone committed to them, that will choose them. I think, with all the complexities of renouncing his faith and then. Being in a relationship with a relationship with the species of God is. Kind of messy in his brain, at least for a lil bit.

Also. I can’t talk about Lykoii without talking about Sphinx too- having gone through so much of the same pressures, going from hating to understanding to caring more than he would have ever dared while on Alternia, it’s a lot! The space siblings are complicated to say the least but, they check in on each other a lot I think. They may not expressly talk a lot sometimes but, I feel that perhaps they send little things to one another, or would fix part of the other’s spatial domain if they see something’s up, the works of small actions showing immense care

Ummm.! TLDR: I got kinda rambly and lost topic but- Lykoii is very afraid of being seen as unfaithful and uncommitted, both in his mind and others. He’s probably the type to send a checking in messages to all of his friends at least once a week or somethinf, please respond, he is a kinda pathetic catfish who can use space to teleport to a doorstep if needed

[robbieshomestuckliveblog]

Day Nineteen

02/28/25

Vriska: Get back to adventurin'. to End of Act 5 Act 1

( page 2516 to page 2625 )

Favorite Panel: Page 2592

Favorite Pesterlog: Page 2575

Favorite Flash (if applicable): Page 2577

Takeaways:

I have always been curious to how Terezi go in touch with her god tier powers.

Once again, Terezi one-ups Vriska. They are both God Tier in a sense. Vriska dies at the hand of Aradia, who was justified in her beating, then pressured Tavros while on her deathbed, who she knew wasn't mentally strong enough, to take her out of misery, bleeding out from the beating. Vriska’s ascension to GodTeir in my recollection, was messy and was not through much action of her own. Terezi through taking her time through the game, through her own will power and efforts ascends all the same as Vriska, despite lacking the flashy wings or GodTier PJ’S. Vriska gets ahead by though brute force, cheap tactics and manipulation, while Terzi gets ahead through her justice and hardwork, and this is why she will always have the upper hand.

It’s cute how Terzei and Rose have the same exile/commander! Both receive the WQ, because they are Seer’s alike! I love the connections Hussie makes through their GodTeirs, it gives us insight on Classpects aswell as the kids themselves.

They are such dorks I actually need them dead. ( /With love. )

Karkat’s use of time travel is coming in full force now! If you thought his backwards chats with John were infuriating you’ll need a new adjective to describe how frustratingly stupid it gets ( or got? Past tense, non linear story time travel bluh blah blah! ) His intent for linearity and simplicity is overruled by his self hatred, going back to berate himself in the past, in a public memo no less. I really grew fond of Karkat when he went off the handle memo wise, they're just a joy to read.

I love this memo, SO much. Nobody takes Karkat’s memo seriously so they just try to bother him for his patented Vantas quadrant advice which he can’t help but support them.

They bait him so perfectly just to keep going on more and more rants.

It’s okay guys he can reclaim it.

I wonder why Kanaya’s land glitched???? Um?? I can’t think of anything she did wrong getting into the game wise?

Okay so my guesstimation of a week for how long it took them to finish Sgrub given how many people were involved was a little silly in retrospect, it was confirmed to be 25 days! ( 600 hours )

“FCG: SO I'M KEEPING MY PRONGS CROSSED.”

I love when the trolls refer to themselves as having the animalistic traits of their Lussi, it’s just plain cute.

“FCG: IT WILL BE LIKE FUCKING 12TH PERIGEE'S EVE UP IN HERE.” Davekat parallel :3.

Karkat is genuinely so cute at the best of times. He has my favorite emoticons, they're just so silly and you can barely process them? His horns being WAY to close together along with being upside down, it's just totes adorable. c:B

Did they hook up in one way or another while playing together?? Ugh i would do anything for some good Karezi flashback filler slop. Opens AO3 I GUESS!

Terezi gets it man, he’s genuinely just SOO cute.

I wonder why after this moment Terezi gives herself the note ( via John retcon powers ) “You don't need him.” Which always kind of confused me? I never got the sense that Terezi relied on Karkat deeply or even at all, so I just don’t understand why this is a sentiment she would realistically feel the need to express. Justice for Karkat man he didn't do anything wrong.

My favorite Pesterlog!

They’re just so cute man.

I made that last note you read right before finishing the memo, and my point still stands, how is Terezi sharing hearts and telling Karkat he’s doing a good job in some fashion depending on him?? Augh i’ve just never gotten this point, this moment is so cute and i'm not gonna let Retcon shit ruin my enjoyment of it anyways, that shit barely counts as canon in my book I DON”T CARREE-UHH.

They make me sick in the best way possible. So sweet it’s rotting my brain, teeth rotting fluff.

My Favorite Panel!

[S] Make her pay.

My favorite Homestuck flash. Beautiful artsyle, aswell as great music, it drags on but in a way that makes sense, Vriska staggering to get the upper hand while bleeding out, music is intense yet sputters in pacing, idk I don’t know anything about music theory the song is just very good and fits perfectly okay. My half hearted relaying of the events won't do this flash justice, go rewatching for yourself! ( has spoilers so maybe don't just watch it for the first time out of context LOL ) The tweening is such a nice touch to the movement needed for this moment, slow yet unwavering. The drops of blood are so satisfying along with the dramatic lightning it's just perfect. The background is very detailed, painted even, they are gorgeous renditions. This most prominently is directed at the Shots of Terezi’s mom, she just looks so cool in all of her dragon glory. Terezi’s descend into the blinding rays of Alterina’s Moonlight. Her waking animation is so creative, resembles Dave’s steps in Dave: Ascend to the highest point in the building, a bit, just looks really cool. Flashforward cut to Terezi And Karkat fighting off underlings together!! Karkat’s land looks SO badass, they’re so cool :D. Cut to Gamzee just doing some juggling tricks at his underlings, what a chill guy. I enjoy the visuals of Sollux’s land aswell as their running movement being really smooth but my question is why did Feferi just freeze up and scream at the underlings? Does she not fight and was beckoning Sollux here?? Um?? Funny nonetheless. Cut to Nepeta glomping the actual shit out of Equius!! Cut to my favorite panel of Tavros ever, we can see the little indentation of his nose, his big smile and eyes omg he’s precious, man. Cut to Kanaya, not in her best dress but hey they can’t all be winners. Cut to Eridan and Sollux in a petty immature nerd battle!!!! Now we cut back to Vriska and Tavros in LOMAT, the music stops in pace, amping up. All of Vriska’s flying animation aswell as sprite animation looks really cool here. AradiaBot’s illustration in this is BREATHTAKING. She looks alien for lack of a better word, cold and inhumane, like a bug of sorts. She also has her time traveling machine that follows the motif of those in her aspect, being Music related! All Vriska wanted out of Aradia was a reaction. She pestered and bugged and fussed just to get Aradia to react to get angry, and boy did she get angry. The music reeling back as she sees a mystified Tavros, she relents her beating and disappears once again.

AradiaBot responding to Diamonds Droog by manipulating Vriska’s blood to form letters is so fucking cool man.

My favorite Panel!

MY SHAAYYLAAASSS. Is this a dumb pick for my FAVORITE panel? Objectively yes but also I don’t care.

Another great example of Hussie’s cool as shit geometric sharp artstyle.

Aradia’s dramatic storytelling of this moment must have been so hype back in the day. Imagine being the creators of [S] Rex Duodecim Angelus, having to piece this story cohesively to the song, imagine being the song writers, assigning each character a sound motif, deciding what characters to pair up in battle, this moment is just so special to me. The trolls are a bunch of champs for one putting up with ALternia and being better than it surpassing the shitty expectations set up for them aswell as everyone doing their part to beat the game, everyone fighting using their best efforts.

Karkat’s fucked up to hell posture, his tiny mouth and his soon to be classic bug eyes. ( Also bg Vriska ans Terezi look ADORABLE ) He’s the cutest character in all of Homestuck! fight me. >:]

Such a pretty and complex panel.

The bots are so cool man, are you kidding me? Look at her, unborthered nonchalant ass queen.

Lol gif compression made Sollux’s shirt peach. Also I wonder why Hussie made every image a gif? I have a bunch of theories but I don't wanna dive head first into nerdy art program shit so..

One of my favorite Homestuck panels ever. It’s so simple yet so strong.

Do the blue curtains set the stage for John? Hmmm!

[lonelimbless]

Legends Of The Meadow

Part 1: Characters

Part 2: Settings & Locations

Part 3: The Meadows Origins (Pre-Story)

Part 4: The Story

Part 5: Afterthoughts & Trivia (You're Here!)

~~~

The final part of this long and kind of messy infodump of the AU. I thought I might as well make this a quick one and clear up any plot holes or questions, mostly regarding to the last part.

What happened to Quinn? Quinn, the real one, was able to break out of the cage thanks to either Luno or Bean during the whole scuffle. She's now living on her best life that she needs and deserves.

What about Nerine? Valentina? Well, Nerine is still wondering about and much like with Monik, I do intended on saving her for future use. Valentina would just be living on and carrying out much like the Rabbids were. I will admit that I have some underutilized characters or even some not used at all, mainly because I was really trying to make a conherent story. I'm not much of a storyteller but it was an attempt.

Trivia Time, I guess ✨

- I was going to have Monik go under as "Kiki" until I figured that her shapeshifting to resemble Quinn would be the better option.

- Monik actually did use to have the symbol before Ashlen was created. She had long since discarded it once she had defected.

- Silverline Haven does have witches along with a few others, which is why there are effective potions within the village. Speaking of witches, The Newt Family does have a connection with them in some way a long time ago.

- Gnarr can actually see in the dark and can jump across great distances. He has a temporary "nightmarish form" that only appears when under extreme circumstances. He also has sensitive hearing and a strong bite force, both from mom and dad respectfully.

- When the heart is finally repaired, the now-reformed dark fairies would have to take the longest recovery due to how long it was. Elise doesn't necessarily reunite with any of them but she does hopes they will finally fond the peace they deserve.

- Bean and the other goblins actually have their own unique language which composes of growls and such. Dracogriffs also have their own language as well.

- Luno (and the newts) do take from actual newts for that they don't really do so well in colder temperatures and such.

- Cutlypso's hair is actually made out of bendable razors and are very sharp to the touch. Nerine's is the same. I just really wanted to design Cutlypso and Nerine to just be walking razorblades, basically.

- Ashlen's hair can actually glow if she's all powered up from red lum energy. She can also turn into an inferno thanks to the fire lum given to her but it has specific requirements and it drains her energy. She uses it in the final fight as I like to imagine.

- Also yes, Ashlen can use the combat fatigues, they so exist in her world ofc. Though, she would much rather not touch anything that is hoodlum-made (unless it's something like the Armaguiddeon, she pretty much asked Gnarr if she can keep it).

- Zaa-Laa has one of the best hugs and is very supportive. She is also very strong; this is mainly a hc of mine that her species are just naturally very strong. Gnarr's strength is noticeably or at least a tad bit weaker than his mom's due to being a hybrid and all that .

- Sally was going to have a full name: Sally Lag, which is suppose to be a play on "scallywag". Sally is a super quick inventor / mechanic, not sonic-quick but noticably. Please don't underestimate her skills.

- Another idea was that I was gonna have Ashlen coat her hair in soot and ash as a way to trick hoodlums to thinking that she was turned when they went to come get her after talking with Willow. I'm not sure if that made any sense but eh,,

Some more stuff:

I really did want to add or change more stuff, such as wanting to give André more of a looming presence before Ash finally meets him in person since André is also an overarching villain up until that point. I also did plan on making some headcanon voices for the characters (or at least, the more major ones). I will make that as an update here when the time comes. In fact, mostly any of my excess ideas regarding the au is just gonna be thrown here.

[krs724490]

7/18/2024

I want to type today I miss typing. and I was still somewhat shaming myself for wanting to type as if this was the quicker, easier way and somehow lesser. but I like the way it can keep up with my brain a bit more. I wonder if the thoughts become different this way. Possibly less patient. but idk. I feel sad about already kind of fucking up the Y6 job and asking for more time off. I feel sad about megan being messy about my availability. but also this is me setting boundaries. I need what I need to take care of myself. and I'm no longer bending around that. honestly its a take it or leave it type situation.

I'm getting more hostile. more angry. or maybe im noticing it more, letting it surface more. maybe I'm getting more particular. a good microcosm of it or metaphor is when the music is too loud anywhere. I can't stand it, I notice it and I need it to be turned down. I'm more particular. it feels more adult to have these sort of sensitivities. no longer being able to sleep in a dorm room that is shared. having more specific needs to keep you comfortable. I'm curious about where that comes from. why we acquire these specific needs.

this is me experiencing myself. these emotions and needs and actions pop up from my subconscious and I sit here holding them in my hands like hmmm where does this come from? and it feels lately theyve been so new. everything has shifted. I feel more spiritual. more connected. but also more angry and volatile and likely to do uncharacteristic things. I think its out of waking up. I think its anger from having bent myself so far sideways to accomodate the world. I dont even know myself and what I truly want because I've spent so long trying to be what everyone else wants of me.

I'm also realizing the way I got self worth was through very flimsy, surface things. Through my looks and the fact that I teach fitness and do a more cool, trendy job. I didn't get my self worth from the energy I carry. From the way I take care of myself. From the boundaries I set. From my connectedness to god. From my connectedness to my favorite self. From the way I am selfless and take care of the world. My self worth came not from making it through true, hard experiences. and now here I am and I feel it. I feel proud. That I am sitting here and I am doing the work and all cards are suspended mid-air. The jobs, the house, the boyfriend. and I can decide which to play and which to put down. I can do what is best for myself. I can sit and truly realize what makes sense. Maybe I do something whack and not work at high ride and just go back to ape. a true hiatus. I can feel my truth building and arising and it feels amazing. and I trust that things will flow and follow and I will learn and it will take time, but I trust. The food stuff is still difficult. I think lately I've given up most real efforts to 'stop' but I am open to what I could do today with it. to see if out of love and strength and pure support of myself. I can nip it in the butt before it comes a giant inner debate. if I can observe the true nature of what goes on from a neutral place and take myself to a place where I leave the nervous system activation, the place where I get frantic about making a decision to do it or not to do it. I am curious about myself. and I will hold myself through and nourish myself out. I am right here. and I am willing. Ready. to go to war for my most favorite self.

I'm not sure how this is connect to Graham, but I'm mad at him. For not telling me it was his brothers birthday and that they were going to see a concert. for not thanking me for sending a card and telling me how nice it was. for not saying bless you. for not checking in on me while the abortion was happening. for not taking care. for not caring. He sounded nervous on the phone and he should be. Every ounce of my tone of voice was I dont want to be here and do this anymore. and for some reason that is how I feel. and I can't shake it. I dont remember why I like him. and he doesn't really remind me. and so I will match his effort level. and not say good morning. and its the weird game you play with withdrawing love. but you have to honor yourself more than anything. I can't keep handing it to him when it isn't honest. my black cat hat was onnn last night. you want me to be mean to you? you want me to tell you like it is? fine. here. I dont remember why I like you and you dont show me why I should. Kindly, do better. Because at the rate this is going, I'm gone.

[starbylers]

Will Byers main character of season 5 “emotional arc tying up the show”, mysterious connection to the main villain and the supernatural lore, “it started with Will and it’ll end with Will”, outstanding questions surrounding his disappearance which kicked off the entire show coming full circle, written for seasons as slowly falling in love with his best friend and that point being driven home extremely hard the season before His season….that Will Byers….is NOT ending up with some random side character lol. If you think that’s the most likely outcome I’m sorry but you haven’t been paying attention.

Like truly how do people envision that scenario? Will spends the season going through presumably life changing events grappling with his identity and fighting these deadly supernatural forces alongside the people he’s most closely bonded with in the entire world including his best friend who he is literally in love with and who’s relationship with him is obviously going to be important, full on saving the world in conjunction with his personal coming of age…and then when it’s over he just trots off with cute guy #373848 who has fuck all to do with any of this, or with the story of the show, who Will absolutely would not have had time to build a convincing relationship with given all of the above. One or even a few scenes of what, someone flirting with him? Being nice, being friendly? does not an endgame make for someone who’s not only the main focus of the season but integral to the core mystery of the show. The love interest of a character like that would need to be front and centre alongside him (oh wait…..).

And in what universe could random new side guy compare to and in fact overtake—because that’s what they’d have to do to pull this off “successfully”—the depth of his relationship with the boy he currently loves, his best friend?? There’s no time or set up for that. Will is a main character. Even Robin (who I adore but she does play a much more minor role) gets a two season love interest who’s involved with the main cast, and don’t get me started on all the complex multi season straight relationships.

An endgame relationship for Will was never going to be an afterthought. The sentiments of I hope the Duffers are brave enough to go for Byler or they’ll just give Will someone else makes no sense to me because this has been planned for YEARS 😭 they were not making season 4 with their minds undecided about Mike and Will’s fate. They were not sitting in the writer’s room like oooh this is fun and messy let’s just slap in this major plot point between two main characters and figure out why tf we did it at a later date.

They made Will, the boy at the centre of everything, love Mike so intensely while actively not presenting a single other viable option (and having him grouped up with Mike yet again next season), knowing from the first introduction of Will’s feelings how it was going to turn out. If they planned all along for him to end up with someone else, there would be set up (à la Rovickie but honestly more than that, probably someone who could’ve taken Argyle’s place, or at the very least show signs of him letting Mike go). Meanwhile by s4 finale, there’s no other candidate in sight and his heart remains with Mike more devoted than ever like ?????

Will is important. His love is important. I’m so over people trying to downplay the legitimacy of his emotions toward Mike. Gay characters feelings aren’t disposable just because they inconvenience a straight ship, and the Duffers didn’t put Will in this position without an end goal in mind. You decide what makes more sense with what they’ve shown us so far. If you can see the threads (and not see certain other threads) it’s for a reason. Writing is intentional.

[i-love-ptv]

hii babes i love your writing! wondering if i could request something w felix catton? thinking abt him being so sweet n gentle and talking his girl through it 🫣

My Eyes Are Wide Like Cherry Pies

Pairing: Felix Catton x fem!reader

Fluff + Smut!

Wc: 659

An: Thank you so much for requesting sweets! I’m so so SO sorry for it coming out incredibly late. School is kinda kicking my butt, and I wanted to make my first request perfect for you lovelies! <333

Hopefully i did this request justice :)

“Honey, I swear you’re made f’me. We fit s’perfectly t’gether. See?”

Felix nudges your head down; urging you to look down at where your bodies connect.

In the corner of your eye you see the long forgotten Harry Potter book that you had been reading earlier. Everyone at Saltburn had been passing it around, Felix had just given it to you yesterday.

The morning started with soft kisses from your lover in his cozy, spacious bed.

“I have somethin’ planned for us t’day beautiful,” he whispered between pecks.

After breakfast, Felix led you to the field, where you laid and read as he picked tiny flowers for you. Most of them were just mere weeds, but you appreciated them nonetheless.

“F’you, my sweet girl,” he declared triumphantly.

The two of you visited the pool, where you splashed about and giggled until your chests hurt.

“Go change into some nice clothes darling, I have lunch covered,” he said with a smile between kisses. He tried to resist, really! But he can’t help but try to nip at your soft, cherry chapstick-flavored lips.

You changed out of your bathing suit and put on your fresh clothes. As you touched up your hair, you noticed a note on the bed saying, “meet me in the maze, dove”

You giggled, and dashed into the heart of the labyrinth, and there before you was your darling Felix, sprawled out on a blanket with an arrangement of foods in front of him. He had a few flowers alongside the blanket, you remember overhearing Farleigh snickering at him for picking the puny weeds. “‘F’you my sweet girl.’ Those were fuckin’ weeds you brick.” “Then why do they look like flowers Farleigh?! She liked them so obviously they’re some type of flower!”

He beckoned you over as he snuffed out his cigarette.

Soft murmurs were exchanged between the two of you as you read to Felix, while he gently pushed cherries into your mouth.

You leant down and placed a sugary sweet chaste kiss onto his plump lips. One kiss turned into who knows how many, each slowly turning into something more; something lustful.

Which is how the pair of you ended up in the position: you pushed into the blanket with your legs raised, as Felix grunts and whines between every thrust.

“My God..D’you feel me there honey? M’in your tummy sweet girl.” Felix whispers between giggles.

His thrusts are uncoordinated, borderline messy. But there’s something so domestic and soft about this. His firm grip on your plushy thighs, the abrupt moans and pants escaping both of your mouths; mixing and tangling in the air as your hands continue to grip and drag against Felix’s warm flesh.

His pace is slow, making sure that you feel every ounce of his love. He may not be the best in certain situations, but this is the time where he can show his love for you in the best way he knows how.

Felix burrows his face into your neck and grins; feeling your cunt tighten around his pulsing cock.

“Let go f’me lovie. Mmmn…M’sweet dove. Right here with you, promise m’not letting you go.” Felix coos softly in your ear.

“Mmmb..c’mon baby let go f’me. Uh huh, f’course I’ll cum with you. You’re s’sweet aren’t you, precious?”

Felix lifts his head and nuzzles his nose against yours, his clammy, warm hand searches for yours on the wrinkled blanket.

He mewls and cries as he finishes. His liquid seed drips down your hole and he puts his head against your stomach as you arch upwards; reaching your high.

As you’re regaining control of your senses, you see a bright, juicy cherry being waved in front of your eyes.

You glance downwards and see Felix adorning his usual sly smirk.

“Cherry?”

You chuckle airily and bite the fruit off the stem.

It may be unusual, but you live for these soft, domestic moments between you and your prince.

[aetherpotions]

🧿 — The considerably outdated technology of this coming-of-age facility makes it hard for most advanced technologies to hack in. It is one reason why there doesn't seem to be any particular advanced security in place.

But the very delicate and important information is protected by codes and ciphers, buried under loads of data packages that, without much context to them, aren't very useful and would take days to put together. All in all, the data carriers and screens all appear messy and unorganized, but there is a system behind it all, one Agericus is very familiar and comfortable with.

Whatever there is behind the door on the wall though, it is protected. No sounds from the other end and no data leaking through. The noises of devices and the massive amount of data in this very room seem to make sure of that.

"You are simply lacking the comprehension to look at the bigger picture. But let me try to explain it as simple as possible, so even you can understand. Aether is an element that runs not just through this planet, it connects an entire system. It is present across this universe and possibly beyond, but those in the upper echelons are afraid of it."

Agericus himself appears to be a normal human. His available data and biometrics suggest that he's grown up in a human settlement within a small backwater planet called Veridia and that he has travelled various worlds before. Initially known as a renowned weapon engineer, he eventually changed to environmental and analytical chemistry and gained a Professor title in Science. There are dubious holes in his uploaded résumé, but there appear to be no warrants or investigations about him and his current activities. He very likely weaseled his way around it.

"My researches will lead to a better understanding of the Aether's purpose, capabilities and effects. I believe it is in fact sentient in itself, and for some reasons, it decides to connect with a selected amount of people, giving them access to its invisible streams. Unfortunately, not all of them are able to handle it well."

He leans back in his chair while picking on his nails, seemingly not too concerned by her scannings or presence altogether. It is certainly hubris most of all, but there is something underlying to that, just lurking. His voice is just as calm as he appears to be. He is so very convinced of doing good and right, that this belief carries along with his being. Of course, as far as it concerns himself, he never does wrong or bad in his own worldview.

"If I give them empathy, you ask? They are given food and shelter here, which is already much more than they are granted in the harsh streets where my assistant picks them up from. See, it is not kidnapping if they are given a choice to come here or stay in their slumps, and they are not prisoners if they are free to leave again. So how about you, Agent I-Don't-Even-Know-Your-Name-And-I-Frankly-Don't-Care, investigate in places where it makes actual sense for your... organisation to spend their citizen's money on, before I file a complaint?"

"You've only described unjustly taking individuals prisoner, kidnapping them, forcing them to be subject to your whims and control in the pursuit of science. Your denial only highlights your obvious hubris." Again the sonic resonance after she spoke lightly rung through the room, lingering in palpable pressure unlike before. She was scolding him now. Especially since he deigned to keep his back to her.

Four crystals floated away from her, gestured away from her belt with the tentacle appendages on her head. A soft sound like chimes rung as they shifted form to diamond shaped drones. They were already scanning the room, rapidly recording all necessary data. She could manage that much while still assessing him.

"I came on investigation into the anomalous energy readings of this world, and this location on this continent in particular caught my interest the most. Desolate and remote, but still with a suspicious residency. Rampant ego of the resident staining the room among other biohazards." She was now monitoring his biometrics, surface level readings for the moment, as she worked to establish a better remote scan. His attitude had her considering the limits of his patience, and fire of his temper, if she so decided to press. Any masking to misdirect on his emotions would be quickly betrayed by the values.

The other part of her focus was on seeing if she could remotely access the system of the lab. Skimming whatever research data this madman had would be useful to piece together the greater picture. Access would also allow for direct sabotage or destruction if she deemed his research too dangerous. The only challenge was whether or not the security was of level to her bio-crystal tech.

Encryptions could be broken and data sifted through of less advanced technology with effort. Time was needed for anything of similar level to her own technology.

"...I will continue to speak simply, however, and ask you my own question: Do you give those you have kidnapped real empathy, or do you relish in the euphoria of lording control over their lives in captivity?" His answer, and the data from the touchscreen her crystal drones were compiling, would determine her ultimate reaction.

[dvrklyte]

Born in Brighton, Oliver came from a pretty well off family. Business types who worked hard for their money and expected their children to work just as hard. Oliver followed in his father’s footsteps, taking economics classes as a priority, even getting a scholarship to the London School of Economics. He moved to London to start his studies, and to live with his long time boyfriend, Graham, after secondary school. 

Straight out of university he got a good job at a bank in the city, taking up his time and earning them a good wage. It was only after he started his new job that he started to notice a difference in Graham. Not only did he refuse to let Oliver see this flat he inherited from his parents, but there was just something off about the man. Graham had been taking courses in criminology, but it seemed to consume his life. He would write constantly, often incoherently. He typically tried to keep the stuff from Oliver, keeping it like a secret. Enough had been enough for Oliver when he confronted Graham about this flat one day, even questioning whether he had been cheating on him or something. But, when he knocked on the door, it hadn’t been Graham that answered. It was someone else. His nightmare come true, Oliver started to break down, crying out to this man to tell Graham it was over and he was leaving. He didn’t give the man enough time to respond before he turned quickly and left. He went back home, packed up his things, and went to stay with a friend instead. 

That was the first night he started to have the dreams. Nightmares of dark tendrils that stretched through the streets and up the buildings. It didn’t take him long to realize that this vision he saw was the reality of how the people on the streets would die, ten days before they actually died. There was nothing he could do about it, he simply could only watch. After some time, he started to see them while awake as well, just as he stopped really sleeping all together. 

Seeing the tendrils of death everywhere was what led him to try and find somewhere completely remote, somewhere where nothing lived and thus nothing died. All so he could have just one night of restful sleep. Only one place provided him that peace, and it was there that was ultimately his own final resting place. Point Nemo, the furthest point on Earth from all civilization. 

[variousqueerthings]

a long text about something that some people have been able to say in simple sentences

or

Johnny may be a betrayal of character arc, but Daniel is a betrayal of themes

Okay, first thing here is that I said before that it was going to be hard for me to explain why I have such mixed feelings about Daniel’s arc in s5, because there’s so much tying into his story, and that’s sort of it, right? back to basics, this is Daniel’s story, because everything connects to him in the end -- which means that anything else that doesn’t work ties back to what I struggle with in his story.

So I will make the choice here to try and leave the other characters (except for Miyagi a bit) out of it as far as is possible for someone like me. Because otherwise this would end up becoming an essay about the whole flipping show and how all the characters mirror back at Daniel, who is the carrier of the Legacy (both in-show and out-of-show)

Secondly, apologies to @gjdraws I can no longer tell what you said and what I said, but just assume that these are not all entirely my words -- there is probably also a bunch I read on others’ posts, apologies for the repetition you’re very smart people! -- generally apologies for the repetition in the text, I try my best, I’m not being graded on this

Third thing is that while I may occasionally be talking character arc, a lot of what I’m speaking to here is what I think about theme. Technically there are character beats that on their own could be cool, but as a whole are incoherent, because they haven’t been earned and/or are couched in Cobra Kai’s issues with Theme

Fourth thing is to acknowledge (speaking of themes) that some people in this fandom called that the show doesn’t like Miyagi season/s ago, and I in my sweet naivety internally went “no, surely not – they may not completely understand the ethos that created Miyagi’s character, but they’re trying to grapple with it. Daniel’s whole story after all is figuring out how to handle the enormity of Miyagi’s legacy passed onto him and how to honour it and what his philosophy of pacifism and non-violence means for his own life, especially now he’s faced with a recurrence of the stories that led him to Miyagi in the first place” *takes deep breath*

So, at this point, I concede… the show really doesn’t like Miyagi, in the sense that it thinks his philosophy and the narrative that led to that philosophy is quaint and naive and silly (and not cool) at best... and I think once I get this out of my system, maybe I’ll be able to get back into the bits of it that I like playing with, the stuff it promised and set-up -- a lack of pay-off doesn’t mean there isn’t a lot of interesting Stuff.

SO LET’S GET INTO SOME STUFF:

I’ve started calling it “The Tension of Daniel” – namely, how do white straight cis men of a certain Type who love the sports drama coming-of-age movie The Karate Kid come to terms with their main character being a skinny little mouthy kid who isn’t like Rocky or all those other guys who deserve to win because… well, look at those muscles! (Shhh, never mind that Rocky is about love, it’s his muscles!)

That Tension exists aaaaall the way through Cobra Kai, as many of us have called on numerous occasions. Daniel inhabits a role often given to female leads. His emotions are denied or made out to be ridiculous or hysterical. He “pretends” to have the moral high-ground, but he’s actually hypocritical as compared to the salt-of-the-earth direct talks-with-his-fists Johnny Lawrence. He’s just not quite as “cool” in his messiness and feelings. He is simply not as much of A Man in the “heroic lead of an American franchise type” as is comfortable. But of course he’s also not a woman (somethingsomething witness gender-essentialism in action).

Now the problem with Daniel not being as cool as Johnny (who has the decency to at least get blackout drunk and punch things when he feels things), is that he’s also one of the two heroes and he and Johnny are meant to find common ground. He’s the person with the most story backing him up (which means that in earlier seasons when his POV isn’t being respected by other characters we can fall back on the movies and remind ourselves why he’s reacting in xyz ways, even if the show itself doesn’t grace the audience with that perspective).

THE WRITERS DON’T LIKE DANIEL (YEAH YEAH WE KNOW):

-- Here’s where, instead of writing another 2000 words, I would redirect you to multiple posts written about how while Johnny’s narrative went from trying to deconstruct his story, Cobra Kai instead fell for how cool it was for everything to be solved with violence, provided it was at the right moment. (I have written several and I warrant you currently can’t spit in the Johnny Lawrence tag without coming across many more).

That ethos is the same for Daniel now, except rather than thinking he’s cool (they don’t) and that being the flaw in their writing him, they’re trying to “fix” him, to make him a more comfortable character for them.

Which means that by the end of this story Daniel isn’t trying to do what he seems to have been trying to do for the entire rest of it (including much of season 5!!!!) -- trying to understand Miyagi’s philosophy and reconstruct it for his own understanding of the world, while grieving him and honouring him, while also having the pain of the events that initially brought him to Miyagi dredged up, except this time without his help – it’s to see that what he really needs to solve his issues is to finally be a fucking man about them.

And for much of season five, this isn’t even the case: For the first half Terry Silver stalks and terrifies Daniel on multiple occasions. Several people have talked about the ways it appears sexual, like an abusive ex, like Daniel is framed in a way women often are – physically completely overwhelmed and disbelieved and/or minimized almost regardless of whom he goes to, and unable to speak about what he’s going through (almost like a survivor). @jenpsaki and @bobakick and @youandthemountains and @deputychairman (I’m sure there are others).

The difference between Daniel-now and Daniel-of-previous-seasons is that much of the menace is being shown onscreen (at last!) so Daniel is seemingly being validated by the narrative (at last!) -- here the obvious point that never is Daniel given the opportunity to really... talk about it. And he likely never will, because it’s all handled now, right?

Please let me know who pointed out the fascinating gendered role-reversal of Amanda disbelieving Daniel until Jessica backs up his narrative + actually gets to say a hell of a lot more than Daniel ever does.

But at the end of the story he wins against Terry in a fight, total role-reversal of episode 5, his wife and kids (family) watching on – no Johnny of course, not even Chozen. They weren’t important to Daniel’s journey I guess. They’re not “really” family in this context.

He’s risen above his original writing where he was wishy-washy and annoying and cared about complex conflict resolutions and he’s met Johnny halfway (which would be idk… still an alcoholic who’s trying to make it work I guess, but crucially correct when he thought that violence was the answer all along, even though that was what his story was meant to be deconstructing).

COOL DANIEL

I think this Very Cool Scene of Daniel finally winning comes at the cost of everything that makes him interesting to fans like us to begin with – all the unpalatably non-traditional-masculine traits that have made him up since day one: His pursuit of non-violence even when that’s a struggle, his complicated way of expressing his emotions, his lack of need to prove his masculinity in order to be worthy, and his past as a victim of others’ needs to prove the same, and a man who made him believe for a brief moment that he was special and how dealing with the aftermath of that + return of that man has sent him to some bad places that he’s trying to be honest about himself with. If anything he’s the character who is most self-aware (and most hyper-critical) of his own ability to make bad choices sometimes.

And despite Daniel’s new upgrade into masculinity-a-dude-audience-can-finally-root-for, the initial Tension is still there throughout most of the season: in the way that he’s never ever given a scene to properly talk about any of it in his own words (well, in s4 I guess but we never saw it so RIP -- sidenote I do want to know how many monologues Johnny gets vs Daniel) and in the way he doesn’t have the power to tell the story on his terms/drive the narrative (in the first half this makes sense – he’s on the back-foot, he doesn’t know how to defeat Silver, he wants to be protected, but in the last episode???):

In the last episode, Mike, Chozen, and Johnny decide to randomly attack Silver without Daniel’s consent (and don’t even end up bringing Daniel along). They set in motion the events that lead to the fight, not Daniel, not even Silver. There’s nothing that has happened thus far that suggests Daniel has recovered from what’s happened to him -- I acknowledge here the callback to Miyagi scene and getting to train with Johnny and Chozen, but none of that is about facing his fear. It’s a good step to something that could pay-off later, but it never does because Johnny and Chozen aren’t there in the final episode -- never mind come to the conclusion that the way to really take down Silver is to beat him up. He doesn’t have a say over where that confrontation happens.

On the surface he’s victorious, but narratively he’s really just following the beats set out by everyone else, right up until the last Moment when he magically defeats Terry, because now it’s decided he’s allowed to.

WHICH BRINGS ME TO MIYAGI:

I know some people made their peace seasons ago that whatever Miyagi mattered to the original narrative is almost entirely absent from this one, and maybe that’s what I need to do to start the process of doing surgery on this show to make it work for me.

But before I can do that, I have to ask what the hell is the point of Daniel’s journey? If it’s not about finding his way to Miyagi’s lessons? If it’s not to find a way to face the fears that have been haunting him for 35 years, which Miyagi was trying to help him with? If it’s not for Miyagi’s legacy to influence the whole darn narrative from beyond the grave, but most strongly through Daniel, his adopted son?

Taking the idea that “one day Daniel will do karate his way” is one thing, but it doesn’t apply to what’s happening in the final fight, because Daniel isn’t fighting to understand himself or what Miyagi meant or anything Miyagi-related. The story isn’t answering this conceit, it’s talking about something completely different with the fight, Miyagi-as-theme has looong abandoned the building.

So why does Daniel have to solve his problems this way? What is it thematically (not “deservedly” not “coolness-factor” but simply what questions does it answer?)

Is Miyagi-do too weak a philosophy for Daniel to find himself in? Is violence to solve your problems only wrong if it’s the bad guys doing it, but fine if practically the exact same things are done by the good guys at the right time? – and especially LaRusso who before this came off as a bit as a pansy, despite his (much more thematically interesting) fight against Kreese, but now he’s proved he’s just as good a fighter as Terry Silver, which was what he really always needed to get over his fear

At the end neither Johnny nor Chozen (and I would say it ought to have been Johnny, but I would have taken Chozen) were even there to support him in any meaningful way, so it’s not really about the family you make and their helping you stand up on your feet.

Nobody’s honking anyone’s noses anymore.

Nobody’s stepping out of the way to let the aggressor punch the glass in their own blind rage.

No mercy was in fact the correct philosophy, Kreese was right from the get-go, his problem was just that he was the bad guy. Thank goodness now the good guys are enacting it -- violence, if done by the right people, is good after all

CONCLUSION:

Daniel, to me, is the most embedded example of what Cobra Kai does over and over, which is taking a narrative that’s thematically pointing in a particular direction, and then veering last minute into a completely different conclusion, usually what they consider more visually spectacular – that is to say, a fight

Daniel was given so much to work with this season and the conclusion of his arc: beat the other man until he can’t get up again.

If anything this show is an ouroboros. It started eating its own themes in sacrifice of “badass fight scene after badass fight scene” until it could no longer write characters who don’t solve their problems with violence, because then it would have to admit that its growing reliance of violence as a tool to show any character growth was in direct opposition to its original themes of exploring and deconstructing the very violence it now presents without question… until all you’re left with is Daniel, who completes his character arc through violence

---

SOME NOTES

1. there’s also a separate thing pointed out to me by GJdraws, where Carmen is the only character who never enacts violence and is weak and Daniel is weak until he enacts violence, at which point he becomes badass

2. another point I loosely made about Sam on her post, which was that she wants to “leave karate” to find herself but the narrative pulls her back in, because if Sam wasn’t doing karate it wouldn’t be able to think of something for her to do at all (one symptom of the ouroboros).

3. funnily enough, despite overall hating far more of Johnny’s arc this season, he actually got to have the catharsis I was hoping for Daniel and for him: when he fought Kreese in s3 he did it out of rage and fear and oh so many mixed emotions and he lost (he lost because Robby was following right in his footsteps and he accidentally hurt him), and then later on he got beaten up again by Terry, in front of Kreese. His winning moment is telling Kreese in prison that he’s going to erase everything about him – and at that moment he’s supported by Daniel, just like he was during his fight with him – that’s some good subversion of the roles the two of them play

4. amazingly, I managed to stick to my guns and not bring Terry into this beyond certain bits, but it’s not lost on me that after episode five he does... basically nothing. He opens some dojos and hires a strict sensei and trains some kids, but he doesn’t actually enact any massively evil plans, he just waits around until some drunk guys break into his home. it would have been easy to run with what’s already there and have him spiral into his own maw (was that not what ouroboros was meant to be about????? violence eventually eats itself). Terry is ultimately self-destructive, just like Kreese when he punched the glass all those years ago. That’s... the themes are right there??????? Terry’s kind of flipping tragic, why not let him be that (at least TIG knows)

5. and I didn’t really speak to the pacing, because I was talking about themes, but while I can forgive rushed pacing if one isn’t sure of a renewal, why start introducing new characters and half-assed racist lore in the back-half of the season instead of concentrating all your energy on the core of the characters arcs?

sure, maybe Daniel could have fought Terry again and there be emotional resonance, I’m not saying the ability to write that didn’t exist, but there was no narrative build-up to it, which adds to the disconnectedness of it all. Why is he fighting Terry now? I don’t know. Was it a fight that made sense for either of their characters? No.

6. I think where I’m at is beginning to find the bits of shiny stuff that I want to play with -- if I know why something didn’t work for me, I can reconstruct it in a way that it does. the absence of something is what I want to make present. the flawed enacting of a genuinely intended theme is still giving the tools to continue to play with said theme.

The Tension of Daniel still remains in full force and that is interesting to work with