#I know this is all very frustratingly vibes-based

[skibasyndrome]

How do you know when someone is using ai, I'm so afraid to read a story that was written from stolen art... I know a lot of people don't even tag that it's made from ai it's a bit frustrating. Even more so that it apparently is done in our fandom 😭

Hey anon! Thanks for sending this ask, this is certainly a topic I feel very strongly about 🥲 I feel your frustration and I WISH I had an easy answer, but I don't, so here goes a lot of... musings about what I generally do:

Okay, first of all, I'm really not an expert on this, I'm just collecting info and experience as I go. Secondly, there's sadly no very sure-fire way to tell, at least as far as I know. It's honestly just a bunch of hints that, when they show up together and to an alarming extent, could point towards it being an AI-generated text that you're dealing with.

Things that I usually look out for/that AI texts I've been dealing with in the past have included:

the overall "feeling" is often that these texts are grammatically/linguistically correct, but the content feels "off". sort of difficult to explain, but when you feel like someone who has seemingly perfectly mastered the language they're writing in is lacking in the content department in a way that feels like it shouldn't go together, that's a hint

the text feels overly formulaic, like... the sentences are technically correct, but they don't flow very well

there are weird jumps between scenes that seem random and unmotivated

phrases and sentence structures are repeated throughout without much variation; this can happen on a story level as well, like there's a feeling of "wait, why are we here again, I thought this already happened/they already said that/they already made this clear" etc. (and for this one especially there's nuance required, because this can be an artistic choice, but the repetition feels utterly unmotivated and, different aspect, it "feels" - based on the language - like the author would not "accidentally" make this many repetitions)

there's a sort of.... flatness to the style. again, this one is very, very vibes-based, but it feels like you're unable to grasp a stylistic through line or the writer's voice in a way you can in other fics/with other authors; it's not that the story necessarily lacks rhetoric devices, but when there are metaphors etc there's no overarching sense of... intentionality behind it?

sometimes, mistakes can sneak in. like maybe suddenly a character is wearing something else, has a different hair color, etc

the dialogue is overly formal, stiff, lacking a sense of uniqueness

with fanfic especially: does it feel like the text is taking the source material into consideration? this one, obviously, is also difficult to apply, because the fanfic spectrum between writing retellings of canon and very far removed AUs is vast and beautiful, but - does it feel like the character is the one you know from the show? does he do or say things that make him seem like that character? or at the very least, is it likely that the version you're reading about is someone's understanding of that character? does it feel like the author has seen the show? if the answer is no, like if the characters feel a bit like you could exchange them with any other character out there or if they behave very cardboard-cutout-like - that might be a hint

sometimes you run into scenes that you remember from other fics. this as well can of course be a coincidence, but if it happens a lot - that's a hint

There are probably more thing, but that's what I could think of off the top of my head. Now I know none of these are easy to spot, and, really, it's a lot about reading and getting a sense of... huh... does this feel like it's coming from someone who had something unique they wanted to tell me? Does this feel like one person sat down and wrote it all?

When there are any of the signs up there present or you just have an overall weird feeling about a text, then you can try to use an AI scanner to confirm. Again, these aren't perfect either, and it's all about trying out different things. It helps when you try it out with a bunch of other texts that you know for a fact are human-made. Then you get a feeling for what the "baseline" percentage is. Some scanners will say something like 0% or 5% ai-content for human-made texts, but it's best if you just try it out with enough different texts to see where you land. And then try to put the suspected fic in there. When there's a huge jump compared to texts you know are human-made - well. that's a pretty, pretty big hint. You can also try running it through different scanners to see if the results stay consistent. It's definitely not perfect, but it gets you somewhere at least. Also always consider that sometimes people don't use 100% ai-generated text. They might paste together different texts and add a couple lines in between, so it's always a question of the "bigger picture".

Idk if any of this was helpful, but I hope it was! If anyone else has any tips please share, because I wanna know and I'm sure anon does, too! I'm. Yeah. I hate where we are with this topic, I hate that people think this is okay to do, I hate hate hate hate hate ai-generated trash that's being sold as fic and I hate that somehow it's now our job as readers to figure this out. Fuck that shit.

Also, final disclaimer: none of the things I listed are necessarily unique to ai fic, they can show up in a lot of ways in human works and we always have to be careful about assessing fics

[valeriefauxnom]

A Collection of Minor Dragalia Theories

1: Some inspiration for Wyrmscale was drawn from tuberculosis.

Wyrmscale frustratingly was talked in minimal frequency for something that has supposedly haunted the royal family to a known degree. What little we do have on it says or suggests this:

-It produces exceedingly durable dragon scales over the afflicted's body

-It is invariably fatal (provided one not get possessed by a literal creator deity)

-It is only known to occur in the royal family's blood (though it is unknown whether it truly is family-exclusive or if any of the exceedingly few dragonblood lines that may have survived could also pick it up). Overall uncommon but it's popped up enough to be a known phenomenon.

-It seems to produce internal damage to organs, based on Phares' comments:

-By implication, it's not infectious, as there is 0.000 isolation or hesitation between Phares and any other sibling when it comes to interacting.

-A common sentiment of wyrmscale is that it's just 'trying to turn you into a dragon' but fails in the face of the weak human body.

-This isn't immediately connected to it but I figured I'd throw in the fun fact that in Japanese, it seems to be more literally called 'dragon scale - itis'

But how does this connect to tuberculosis?

I'll start with a more casual link that I still find interesting: Tuberculosis, among its names, has been known as 'the White Death' - which to me instantly calls to mind Phares' ivory scales.

To actually start digging in the weeds, though, the disease is predominately one that affects the lungs. It's especially famous for producing the ~dramatic bloody cough~ we all see in media.

And lo and behold, as I just displayed above, Phares does indeed have it!

Now, wait, you might be saying, TB is infectious, having caused epidemics aplenty, and you're correct!

...However, there's also another wrinkle to this: most TB cases never 'bloom' into its full potential and instead just kinda quietly sit there.

As a matter of fact, in 2023 it was estimated that 1/4 the WORLD'S population 'had tuberculosis', either its active or latent form. Even if you focus on a country like the US, there's still 5-10% of people that have it.

So who knows if wyrmscale could be contagious? It might just have a particular quality to it that is only really able to take root in dragonblooded bodies, and even then, it could be that the rest of the fam caught the latent version since there's a high enough percentage of people who just never develop active TB.

Ignoring the infectious matter, there's more that I would like to bring up: the surrounding culture of TB.

'Culture' is a strange word when talking about a disease that for a long time was very deadly with no cure possible, but there was! Tuberculosis was a disease that was also called the 'romantic disease', and was at one point portrayed as a sort of 'cool' thing. It's the whole 'pale skin, delicate soul' vibe that caused this, though it also has been attributed towards supposedly making one smarter/more creative especially re. the arts.

Funnily enough, this whole thing was sort of a flip-flop from previous portrayals of it as a poverty disease. But that's not relevant.

The point I'm trying to make here is that TB for a while had an idea of it being this ~noble disease~. And while we don't exactly get Public Opinion 101 regarding most the royal family, they don't exactly seem to fear or otherwise have a negative opinion of him for his disease or otherwise, which, ya never know, may be partly informed by the idea that it's a 'cool noble one' instead (and even more literal than its real-life counterpart, as dragon scales are admittedly cool). People can get mean about uncontrollable things as it is, and for a family that's already held up as special because of their dragonblood, it would be easy to see how they could have pivoted to view wyrmscale as a 'mark of disfavor/poor character/etc' in another world.

Theory 2: Euden, in a somewhat vague way, could be considered a fiend.

Ah, Euden, and your complicated creation process. What are you? Human, a god, human god, demon, amalgamate of baby blood...etc etc?

However, I believe that you could argue that Euden's overall 'presentation' to the world in a broader sense is that of a fiend instead of 'just a human'. How so?

I'd like to take a small detour to canon, and this line in ye olde Dragalia lore when they were first trying to drip Da Lore on us:

So fiends in general were portrayed as generally drawn to it, created from it, bad stuff happens yadda yadda yadda. It also is very harmful to humans and dragons alike. See all the void dragons and everyone generally stress everyone has to get moving whenever it gets too thick.

You might already be looping around to the Euden-Morsayati thing, and you're absolutely right, but that's more the 'why' of 'why I think you could consider Euden to have the traits of a functional fiend'.

A bit less concise a theory title, but hey.

First, I'd like to pull out this moment from ch.5. Mym's feeling bad vibes, Ranzal and Elisanne, both very strong themselves are feeling very poorly... and Euden just never really seems to be bothered. He's just chilling.

Now, it's not like Euden is immune to mana shenanigans. He's just as easily knocked down a peg from things like Sophie's story, where mana being off makes everyone miserable for a little while.

But, generally, from what I can dig up... black mana doesn't really seem to get him complaining. In fact, we saw it as a plot point several times, between him just chilling in Lefkos' ruins and later in an area absolutely packed with black mana:

He's more upset about the fact he's going to be eaten by a black hole than any black mana (understandable). By all indications, even before Da Lore developed to say he's immune, Euden just didn't really care about it.

However, I'd like to suggest a particular moment in ch.13 as another 'hm' moment.

They address this more as 'artificial mana' but I'd like to point out that it's not 'just' artificial by implication - it's able to corrupt Poseidon into Void Poseidon, implying that it is at least somewhat tainted with black mana.

And here Euden immediately keys onto it, and in contrast to Ranzal's heeby-jeebies, instead wants to go to it. Or, maybe one could say, drawn to it in the same manner that fiends are? It could be a thing that he's tried to suppress since black mana has been drilled into his head as 'the thing to go away from as fast as humanly possible', and how weird is it that he wants to go to it instead of running away with his friends? Better to just resist the urge, he's not a bug that needs to go to the light, and his friends are struggling already, he's not going to insist they risk themselves more.

Jokingly, I could also suggest that this is the source of his unstoppable ability to just find danger (whether that's fiends finding him or him finding fiends)!

'Now wait', you might say, 'fiends are those weird hooded creatures or manticores and stuff, not humans, even if they can be sentient. Plus, since they're Bad Vibes manifested, all the mana sensors in the gang could Sense him'... but we do already know of at least one exception: Mei Hou Wang, who is perfectly humanoid in appearance. It takes Cleo making a dedicated effort to deduce that he's 'not human', and even then, she can't conclusively ID him as a fiend.

All he registers is 'weird', to say the least. Which, you guessed it, we've several that suggest Euden just 'feels weird' too, mana-wise. Granted, some suggestion for that is that his mom is haunting him, but whether it fully explains the weirdness several register regarding him is unknown.

As a final little thing for this theory, I will also throw in the pot that fiends and black mana seem to be 'frenzy-ing' in nature. Driving dragons and humans mad, becoming crazed themselves, yadda yadda... Heck, even Beren, who we know is a human constantly inundated with the stuff, seems somewhat impulsive and driven by any whims of his. This, to me, intersects with Finlorda's vague words of warning regarding Euden, that he feared Euden going berserk.

You could interpret this as though he feared that the Other's demon flesh would make him a 'true fiend' in behavior to match the material he was made from. In a broader sense, as I've long argued on here, Euden is... not fully stable, mentally. And while that part of him ultimately stems from the way he was raised and how he thinks of himself, if he's a 'fiend' in a technical sense I'm sure that doesn't help regulate him at all.

This combines into the vague picture that Euden, a person whose physical form is predominately made from Morsayati, a demon overlord/fiend, may possess more than just an immunity to black mana but an outright compulsion as the 'real things' do, and potentially shares their capacity/inclination to go berserk.

Theory 3: They(tm) were thinking about maiming Leonidas at least a bit post ch.12

'They' being the dev team and more specifically the writers.

Why do I think this?

It stems from the overall vibes I pick up from a mix of the story and art. Of course, there's no smoking gun to confirm anything, as is the case with the other little mini theories here, but hopefully you can see where I'm going with this!

It starts with the heavy stress that Leonidas was just wrecked by the end of ch.12. He's wounded enough that Euden immediately flips his mood from 'I need to beat you up' to 'I am concerned for your life' once Phares shows up.

The next piece to this puzzle comes in his later meeting with Chelle. She stresses how injured he was and how bad she was expecting him to be.

Gala Leonidas' lines, when combined with this, paint the broader narrative that Chelle personally ferried his gun to him in this visit.

In short: she understood that he was injured enough to render him more or less defenseless from his typical means of sword and shapeshift, and likely was intending to supplement her brother's capacity to defend himself in his infirmity.

Even for whenever Ilia shows up after, he's still wounded enough for a wide scope of them to be clearly visible to her, and he's overall maybe a bit less sharp than normal, getting surprised...

...And Ilia able to incapacitate both his guards before he so much blinks.

So, obviously, whatever injuries he had weren't just for show, and did affect him in the days and weeks after the fight even in canon, but Leonidas largely seems to convalesce more or less entirely.

Here's where we loop around to the why I think that wasn't originally the plan!

A big part stems from this draft artwork for him in the songbook, of all things...

Pardon the poor picture but between the scan and the texture on the image itself, it's... tough to find anything better. But from the start of them, there's a clear pattern of his right arm being... oddly emphasized, with his mismatched black sleeve until it got phased out for his B design.

I'm also noting the small detail of him holding the gun in his left hand, instead of the right. It could be just artistic choice to show the details of his right, I can't say for certain. Heck, even the asymmetry could just be more 'Japanese artists love asymmetry'.

But something about it to me just feels... off. Like the black seems to extend past the arm onto his chest, where it almost vaguely looks like there's a gap in the coat. Maybe, if so, to allow a less-flexible arm through if he can't quite manage the sleeve?

Even more unlikely related, Euden also does generally seem to have/like having a tighter undershirt on underneath the main armor/outfit he's wearing. See his default art or even just 'Unexpected Requests'. The former, it also seems to be a one-sleeved thing to match with his higher amount of armor, implying it maaaaay be just a cultural tradition thing for what to wear under armor in Alberia. My probably-incomprehensible mind connects the two- Leo's wearing a black sleeve seemingly underneath the main coat that -> is that what would be his 'under armor shirt+sleeve' -> ...that he's now unable to fully cover up because whatever injury makes him incapable of fully dressing in his overcoat and is just using it as the 'good enough' coverup?

Like I said, this is high-level nonsense and projection, but in some wild world of mine it makes sense.

This is all speculative, but more concrete 'hm' material in his drafts can be found in this drawing:

Aha. Again, nothing concrete, but something between these drawings, between the artist(s?) playing with an eyepatch for him or the weird shirt-sleeve thing he was wearing in his beta designs, makes me seriously wonder what was going on.

Add in again all the extra notes and drama about him being so injured, etc etc, and I can start to see a thread forming: Leonidas might have been originally planned to be at least a bit maimed!

As a final note to this, note his sudden disappearance in canon for a long while after 16. 16-~24, he's content to be what I call jokingly Euden's secretary, instead directing Ilia and Emile to Euden's location instead of doing much himself. As if he's not fully up to his previous capacity to start causing problems, either because he's still in a long recovery or just flat-out not able to go out as much anymore and kill stuff.

He's overall relegated to filling this role in the story, as depicted with my microsoft-paint memery skillz:

In fact, you could almost think that the devs just weren't... intending on him being a problem again, despite his still-contrasting beliefs with Euden. Or maybe just unable to immediately create massive drama for round 3. I could see Leonidas pulling a 'wow Euden nice to see you're back but you see here your kingdom is also kinda mine now? I never said I'd give it back... ok now join me or die' whenever Euden came back, disabled via injury or not. By then, he could've had time to plant seeds of defenses/discontent with Euden+puffing himself up or other strategies to ensure Euden can't take back his kingdom, too.

Honestly, I could've seen that being a fun/interesting plot. Leonidas, just as potent a threat to Euden, but now has switched his means to Euden's, turning Euden's advantages against him. Words or violence, Leonidas will have his way!

Ahem. This is getting long, so I'll cut it off there, but yeah, something about his overall treatment in the post-12 canon world reeks of something to me, that they were thinking of more permanent consequences for Leonidas' fight. Which, too bad! The siblings as a whole probably ought've been a bit more maimed in true throughout canon. They seemed afraid of that or the wider fear of killing them and taking their pieces off the board, as we later see with the Gala!Zethia copout there with her now being 'blind'... and also having no problems in Bondforged, which in retrospect kinda adds to argument with Leonidas.

In any case, I do hope that these little theories have given someone more to chew on regarding Dragalia and its lore!

[leejenowrld]

It’s a little personal those questions so suit yourself, but I’m curious about your relantioship, and I remember you saying you based Jeno’s personality a lot on you bf right? And not saying y/n and Jeno’s story is completely autobiographical but you too meeting there was a enemies to lovers vibe or was everything smooth lol also I find it really cute you dating the same person since you were 15 because you saw each other growing up and changing from adolescence very early adolescence to adulthood, idk it’s just cute you must’ve been through a lot together

thank you for trusting me with a question like this — it’s really sweet and i appreciate how gently you worded this. it feels safe and warm so i’ll share <3. i love sharing and talking about my bf lol.

so we met when we were really young, both in a boarding school. i joined in the second year and was painfully shy, especially in group settings — i was observant, reserved, a little overwhelmed by how fast everything moved, and very used to keeping to myself. he, on the other hand, was always confident. very assured and popular, he played sports too and he’s the kind of person who always looked like he knew what he was doing. he may have changed and matured as he’s gotten older but the intensity has never wavered lol. anyways so when i joined he noticed me instantly — it wasn’t enemies to lovers, i did find him very funny and cute, i never really thought about ‘boyfriends’ before him and before him it was all just a fantasy. but i remember i’d always feel so shy, nervous and overwhelmed (in a good way) when he’d talk to me or look at me, seven years later and he still looks at me in such an intense way it’s kinda crazy 😭😭 i remember being at that school and thinking “please stop looking at me i’m trying to disappear into my blazer.”

he used to go out of his way to talk to me, to sit near me, to ask questions that made no sense just to get a response. and i genuinely didn’t know what to do with that kind of attention at first — not because i didn’t like it, but because i wasn’t used to being seen so directly. it wasn’t rude, but it was this quiet kind of “why me?” panic that made me want to hide under my books. he always said it was the fact that i didn’t want attention that made him want to give it. plus he said he liked my eyes so always wanted to talk to me telling u this guy has always been such a CORNBALL since day one anyways.

we started dating young, like really young. it was sweet and awkward and intense in the way teenage love can be, but it always felt like there was this knowing between us. we grew up together, from clumsy school uniforms and curfews to figuring out life as adults. we’ve absolutely been through rough patches, especially during transitions — school to uni, shifting cities, long-distance for a while. we broke up once too.

sorry i went off topic but here’s the actual answer to wish you asked

a lot of jeno’s personality is drawn from my partner — especially the restraint, the loyalty, the physicality, the deep emotional interior that not everyone gets to see, and the specific way he loves: all-in, possessive in a quiet way, deeply intuitive, sometimes frustratingly guarded but always present and dominant. that part of jeno, the way he aches when he can’t express something properly, how he needs to feel useful to feel worthy, how being with someone like y/n both softens and wrecks him — that’s all pulled from what i’ve observed and lived with for years. i’ve dated the same person since i was fifteen. we met in boarding school when i transferred in late. and he decided i was someone he wanted to know. that dynamic — of someone quiet and watchful (but not shy or awkward, lol that’s the difference between me and y/n. y/n may be quiet but she’s not shy) being slowly undone by someone bold and sure — is embedded in everything between jeno and y/n. and most of the sex is stuff i’ve experienced irl too lol the reason i can write so vividly and detailed is cos i know firsthand what to write and what happened etc and i watch it too.

back to you is definitely darker and heavier and more complicated than my real life but the emotional blueprint is real. that magnetic push-pull of someone who challenges you even when they don’t mean to. the way love feels when it’s not loud but full. the patience, the rewiring, the way you either grow together or grow apart and have to choose what comes next.

[shadeslayer]

very like. pensive lately on making my irl queer community spaces more welcoming to nonwhite ppl. bc the people within the ground Are but bc of local demographic (cuz the area we host events is primarily white cuz the venue we got for free in a kinda gentrified area) we just havent had much interest or contact from people. we have a variety of nonwhite folks but id like to make it explicitly more welcoming but its a hangout space primarily rn so we dont have a place other than within conversation to make clear the minutia of our politics (its pitched to new ppl as a queer art group at x time y place) and its just like

seeking out to invite people to check diversity boxes is sickening. but we're also trying to keep the group more word of mouth, and so we cant/dont want to cast a Wide Net (yet). most ppl who come already have told the ppl they know abt it, and new ppl usually come from chance meetings w other queers out and about. this is also pretty much the only base of people i actually Know in illinois so as one of the Resident Poc i cant lean on my networks bc all those ppl r in oklahoma. but also i ran into this in OK in a diff way of ntv spaces and queer spaces were very segregated. finding crossover between those groups was v difficult

some ppl said that the space is too white for them to come regularly and im glad they said it and i want to have a meaningful response to that. but also its frustrating bc it feels like theres not much of an answer to give ? there are poc who come but every time we meet its no guarantee who will be there, so people might come on a night that no other poc have come other than me and hopefully one other woman, esp bc driving distance is a lot for a few of the regulars who want to come more but cant bc time energy gas money

as well like. i was saying to some1 in the group as we discussed the problem i think a good thing is to keep race a part of the conversation bc i think thats one of the big problems With a white space is that race is left to assumptions and unspoken understandings or ignorance. ive discussed racial matters and racism faced etc at the group before with white and nonwhite ppl and its always been welcomed conversation and gone well so that is rly good. but between that being chance convos and the chance of who shows up each meeting makes it frustratingly hard to express to new ppl

all i have really going forward is that we'll do some collabs with other groups that have more diverse membership like a local zine group and some mutual aid groups and we can hopefully get some mingling crossover there that will push us forward into getting a more spread out network instead of the same group of ppl weve been having. its just frustrating and sad to wrestle w the question bc its true but like what is there to Do about it

and i think it just pulls back the curtain a bit too on how much im missing my native community. esp rn without having w job im so fucked with gas money otherwise id really be tempted to drive out of state just to go to any powwow i can find. the only locally accessible groups for me are either weird vibes or very white or practically defunct or only run events for fucking children

[givehimthemedicine]

why the mothergate opening and the demogorgon's entry could not have been virtually-simultaneous events

(putting this point out solo as background logic for some other gate stuff I'm working on)

so mostly this post is about when this very first scene actually occurs:

I think they want us to think it immediately follows the gate opening scene, but we have some clues that it does not.

Elevator Scientist

Elevator Scientist appears in both water tank flashback scenes.

here he is in the first tank flashback (seen throughout 1x05), the one where El is spying on the Russian and hears demogorgon noises. she screams and bangs on the tank wanting to be let out. we are not shown what goes on outside.

and here he is in the second tank flashback, the 1x06 one, the one where El actually finds the demogorgon, screams, and the mothergate opens.

based on those two guys having the same shirts and ties, these flashbacks would appear to be from the same day.

since we're shown the room full of scientists panicking and scurrying for the exits in this scene, it's easy to figure this is where the Elevator Scientist scene picks up. but let's look closer at:

Elevator Scientist's costume design

do you see my problem with the idea that these scenes happen in fairly rapid succession?

gate:

fleeing:

in his panic, he took the time to unclip his ID - not his keycard, but his ID, which plays no role in his ability to navigate the building - from his outer coat pocket and clip it instead to his shirt pocket? that doesn't make sense. I also am not sure I see the same pens in his pocket.

frustratingly, they don't let us see any more of him in flashback #1, so I can't know whether it matches then. (it doesn't make sense for it to have happened then, but still, I'd like to have seen it.)

the only reason I can think of for moving your ID is if you took your coat off and had to move your ID to your shirt.

time must've elapsed between these scenes, during which ES felt calm enough to still care where his ID was clipped when he removed his coat. he was not in a continuous state of panic from the cracking of the wall to his fleeing.

the different vibe in the tank room

when ES first bursts through the doorway, they let you see just a glimpse of the tank room behind him. it lacks the erratically flashing cold-blue lighting and crowded pandemonium of the gate opening scene, as well as...

the alarm

clips in video form below so you can hear what I mean.

the alarm sounds immediately when El screams and the wall starts cracking. (it's not super prominent in this scene's mixing but you can hear it.)

however, Elevator Scientist scene begins with a long shot of the HNL hallway in silence. only when he bursts out of the tank room door does the alarm begin.

unless that door was 100% soundproof and the alarm was sounding solely inside the tank room. which. I don't know what the point of that would be. the alarm persists all down the hallway to the elevator so I don't feel like that's the case. and according to the massacre, that alarm sounds all over the building.

my point here is that the alarm has not been going off continuously ever since the wall cracked. these are two separate soundings of the alarm, another indication that we are missing some time in between these events.

Brenner and Scientist #1's wardrobe

this guy, named Scientist #1 in the script (ha), is the other guy at Brenner's side during El's tank experiments.

the script says of Brenner: "loose tie, stubble, clearly hasn't slept in some time."

I can't say Brenner actually looks disheveled in the final product. and I also notice Scientist #1, who you'd think would be having a similarly hectic morning, is wearing a different shirt and tie than when the gate opened. Brenner is Steve Jobsing with his black ties in s1 so I can't tell if he changed.

what's that have to do with my proposed missing scene? I guess nothing. perhaps this script detail was truly discarded. perhaps the man simply took a shower the next morning. I'm just looking at this squinty in case this has timeline implications I'll revisit later.

Scientist #1's omitted lines

as they walked into the tank room, Scientist #1 originally had more lines that confirm we're missing a scene:

surely, in all his specificity about where each person was standing, Scientist #1 wouldn't fail to mention that Elevator Scientist was also right next to them. he doesn't, because he's not describing the gate opening scene.

their next dialogue is in regards to whether "it" came from the gate (which we assume to mean the demogorgon, because that's all we had going on in season 1 but hey, who knows). Scientist #1 is clearly referring to an unseen event that happened after the gate opened but before the Elevator Scientist fled.

the moment "it" entered.

this also indicates Brenner was there to see it.

what happened to the other scientists?

we know they didn't all die.

Brenner and #1 obviously survived in their observation chamber (I'm rolling in that sentence like a dog in poop)

@aemiron-main here's some name bullshit for you: I was gonna say that we know Elevator Scientist must be one of the doctors other than Shepherd, because that's the guy who goes into the gate later on:

but actually that guy's name is spelled "Shepard". to be exact he's "Test Pilot Shepard", according to the transcript (I can't find a legit 1x04 script, can anyone hook me up?)

why must we have a Shepherd and a Shepard in the mix. PLEASE can we have normal things. just for a minute. pleeease.

anyway Brenner tells Joyce at the end of 1 that "six people have been taken this week" and Will, Barb, Elevator Scientist, those two hunters, and Shepard make six. so I don't have any solid reason to think any other scientists died in addition to ES. I'm gonna say they fled through other exits and call it a day.

what happened to El?

obviously this didn't make it into the show but:

a shot of the water tank "filled with water but no one's in there" PLEASE BE FOR REAL. Duffers why would you exclude this.

so together with them wanting us to think Elevator Scientist is running from something immediately after the gate opens, the aim of that empty water tank shot would've been for us to wrongly assume El mysteriously vanished from her tank when the gate opened.

whereas really I think El was simply let out during the time they didn't want us to realize was missing.

my reconstruction:

experiment 1. El panics and is let out of the tank, and taken probably either to her room or the infirmary depending how shaken she is.

knowing they're onto something, Brenner summons a bunch more observers and convinces El to go back in the tank later the same day.

experiment 2. the wall cracks, the alarm sounds, everybody freaks, spectators flee. El is let out of the tank again. Brenner either personally escorts El to safety or orders her escorted by orderlies, depending whether El or monitoring the gate is his top priority. (probably the latter)

initial panic dies down, the alarm is cancelled. a core team of scientists remain in the tank room to keep an eye on that crack in the wall - Shepherd, Braun, Wilkins, and Manning in the outer tank room, and Brenner and Scientist #1 in the observation chamber.

they observe the crack - which may or may not already be spreading - for some time on the order of many minutes to some hours. at least enough time for Elevator Scientist to feel warm from the excitement, remove his coat and reclip his ID, then wait around long enough and calmly enough to get cold again, and put his coat back on.

eventually, Brenner and the others witness the demogorgon(?) enter through the gate. somebody sounds the alarm again. they scatter. Elevator Scientist flees and gets yoinked.

this chaos may equal a lack of supervision on El elsewhere in the building, and this could be when she makes her escape.

anyone see any glaring issues, before I build more theory on top of this?

and this is the SIMPLE (single El / single timeline) version mind you

[anotherttpfanaccount]

an MLB AU i put way too much time and thought into

.

here are some changes i've already made:

there are only 8 miraculous

the roles will be altered from the canon

the relationships will be altered from the canon

all ages are the same ( 18 and up ), so the setting is college

for right now, i have no images, but expect the costumes to look different, as i hate most of them

disclaimer - i don't watch or support the show, i am merely a viewer from afar ( aka via fandom ) and i like the base concepts, so i decided to give in and indulge myself.

.

Characters . . .

Marinette - Amir ( Sir Ruby ) Adrien - Rupert ( Vesper ) Chloe - Cecily ( Lady Wasp ) Alya - Joan ( Vixenary ) Nino - Percy ( Terraperc, but Rupert said that was a terrible idea, so now it's just Terrapin ) Luka - Darling ( King Serpentine ) Natalie - Chamberlain ( Mr. Plume ) Gabriel - Lavinia ( Queen Admiral )

rest are various other side characters that will serve the main plot and subplots, rather than me making up a bunch of bullshit on the fly.

-

Key Relationships . . .

Amir .

Rupert - strangers to friends to lovers Cecily - one-sided awkwardness to friends to 'lovers' Joan - childhood best friends Percy - cordial acquaintances to... sorta friends? Darling - absolutely hate each other Chamberlain - polite strangers to... Lavinia - polite, but on edge strangers

-

Rupert .

Amir - strangers to friends to lovers Cecily - friends to best friends Joan - respectful acquaintances to friends Percy - no one knows why they're friends Darling - awkward exes ( like, bad awkward ) Chamberlain - father // son-like dynamic Lavinia - cordial at best

-

Cecily .

Amir - 'we're so friends!' to actual friends to 'lovers' Rupert - early teenhood friends to best friends Joan - unknown to friends to lovers, somehow ( it was Cecily ) Percy - chaotic friends Darling - 'you're on thin ice, mister' Chamberlain - they think the other is funny Lavinia - only met her a few times, very tense

-

Joan .

Amir - childhood best friends Rupert - respectful acquaintaces to friends Cecily - unknown to friends to lovers, somehow ( Joan has no idea ) Percy - that one meme of A having B on a leash Darling - they haven't met ( yet ) Chamberlain - respectful and agreeable ( they talk about work ) Lavinia - Joan kinda sorta idolizes her just a little bit ( she has no idea what Lavinia is doing )

-

Percy .

Amir - "rivals" to tense acquaintances Rupert - not even he knows how they're friends, he just rolls with it Cecily - chaotic friends Joan - 'tense' friends Darling - thinks he's pretty, but doesn't know him that well Chamberlain - friendly-ish acquaintances Lavinia - has only seen her once, and it was on a bad day

-

Darling .

Amir - they hate each other Rupert - awkward exes ( Darling keeps trying ) Cecily - keeps getting vaguely threatened by her Joan - they haven't met, but only doesn't like her because of her relation to Amir ( yes, he's that petty ) Percy - thinks he's cute, but doesn't him that well either ( way too focused on Rupert ) Chamberlain - used to be friendly, but now also gets vaguely threatened by him Lavinia - hardly cared for his existence, even after the breakup

-

Chamberlain .

Amir - polite strangers to... Rupert - father // son-like dynamic Cecily - thinks she's hilarious Joan - respectful and agreeable, almost colleagues Percy - is only nice to him because of Rupert Darling - displeased at best Lavinia - haven't gotten along on personal levels in years

-

Lavinia .

Amir - judgmental, but won't say it ( Rupert knows ) Rupert - loves him very much, wishes he'd understand Cecily - doesn't see her enough to care a whole lot Joan - likes that she feeds her ego Percy - got on her nerves once, hasn't seen him since Darling - does not give a fuck Chamberlain - frustratingly opinionated ( the irony )

.

Extras . . .

Amir and Darling already did not like each other, due to wicked bad vibes, but after Amir is noticeably developing feelings for Rupert, Darling becomes a bitch.

as a society, we simply don't know if Percy and Darling will get together. not even i know. only time will tell.

there are Miraculous swaps, but only if necessary and // or akumatized with that miraculous ( for ex, there's a thing where Darling gets akumatized with the fox miraculous ).

Joan isn't necessarily like Alya in terms of personality, but she is very interested in documentation of abnormal // supernatural events, reporting, etc., and does become a fan of Sir Ruby and Vesper.

the Kwamis are the animals within the podcast or based off other characters ( Rupert's kwami is a cat-version of Fitzroy, Amir's is a ladybug-version of Porridge, etc. ), and it's unknown if the Kwamis can actually choose their holders or not.

there are not many side villains. to be honest.

Rupert isn't very flirty as Vesper at all, that's more in line with Darling // King Serpentine. similar thing with Amir, he's not nearly as awkward ( or creepy ) as Marinette.

.

this AU is very focused on the relationships of the characters rather than the superhero-y stuff, but i do dabble in that every now and then in my train of thoughts.

feel free to ask me any questions.

[optimistredsox]

5 June, ATL @ BOS, 0-9, win

When you're having a rough season (we're thankfully back at .500) you often seek comfort in the most peculiar places. You need that comfort because not only was young phenomenon Wilyer Abreu put on the IL (17th), so was frustratingly inconsistent but occasionally amazing reliever Chris Martin (who apparently isn't only the lead singer of Coldplay). For me, one of those peculiar places to find comfort is the knowledge that we kick the shit out of the other guys more than they kicked the shit out of us. The juxtaposition of yesterday and today is a great example of that. Yeah, they beat us yesterday, dropped us under .500 again, but we beat them back better today. And we really did beat them back better. Let's look at the multitude of bright sides.

Nick Pivetta bossed it. One hit and two walks in seven innings with quite obviously no runs and 9 strikeouts. I was worried when he came back from the IL but the dude is inhabiting the zone at the moment and it is all good vibes.

Jarren Duran, obviously ROCKING Arrakis's finest spice, hit his NINTH triple of the season. NINTH. It is the FIFTH OF JUNE. He has more triples than a lot of people have a lot of other things. Please remember, folks, triples are hard, awesome, and so much rarer than dingers. Unless you're Jarren Duran and ridin' Sandworms like I was ridin' a BMX in 1983. He also hit a dinger and scored twice. Which means he was the two easiest hits away from the cycle. Just sayin'.

Raffy Devers is, as Alex Cora put it, "locked in" and knocked TWO dingers over the Monster today. He was two for three but scored three times BECAUSE HE TOOK A WALK. He also knocked in three because there was someone on base when he hit the dinger in the seventh. He also got walked intentionally because, I don't know if you know this, he is Raffy fuckin' Devers.

Tyler O'Neill returned to the lineup from the IL (apparently it does happen) and went 2-for-4, knocking in a run. Welcome back, dude.

Dom Smith went 2-for-3, scored a run and knocked one in. And played good first base. There's something about him that seems like he's from another era. I have a feeling his average is going to climb and he's going to become one of those solid stalwarts. Hitting .270-.280 and pulling off ninja grabs with his toe on the bag to get the runner out. Dunno why. But I've got a feeling. Or he's going to hurt himself like the rest of literally everyone else on the team but let's not be pessimistic. The opposite of what we're trying to do here.

Jamie Westbrook, after *checks notes* one billion games in the minor leagues got his first major league hit and it was a very pretty laser-like liner to left. He's from Holyoke which I used to refer to as "Holytoke" when I was in high school. And so did you. Don't fib. You know you did.

Rob Refsnyder went 2-for-5 and scored a run. Dude hits. Like, a lot.

Zack Kelly and Brad Keller (ZeeKay and BeeKay?) threw up zeroes, keeping the one-hitter going until the final out in the ninth.

Beating someone 9-0 and allowing one hit is far cooler than beating someone 8-3 and allowing five hits. Just sayin'.

We won!

We split both series at home which is better than losing one or both!

Hopefully we can go kick the shit out of the other Sox. They are NOT GOOD this year and we need to beat them.

[halflingkima]

one thing the video essay didnt touch on – likely because it's very hard to source objective text-based evidence for it, but i'm tempted – is the everyone's beautiful & no one is horny vibe.

bc the video is about feminism and how women are treated within the constraints of the show, a lot of the video focused on how sexualized mft's companions are, and in turn how eleven is "the most sexual doctor to that point." Which isn't incorrect on paper – he's the only one to kiss (for the sake of kissing) multiple companions and strangers, the first to make obscene jokes, the first to flirt & tease.

But it all falls so frustratingly flat in the show. My leading theory is that it's due to the conceit of a "family show." Every relationship must be built on love and everything sexual must be a quick, cheap throwaway joke – and the smaller the sex jokes are, the more you can make.

I hardly believe Amy & Rory have sex and they are the only truly canonical sexually active characters (as far as s8) given that they. You know. Have a child. I believe Amy & Rory are in love; they are in grand, sweeping, wait 2000 years, "I don't wanna live in a world without him" love. There is absolutely love in mft!who. But there is no desire.

There is no Mr. Darcy hand flexing, no mooning looks, no wire of tension waiting to snap when the Doctor's out of the room. Every bit of sexuality in mft!who (so far) is tell not show. They tell us Amy & Rory were having "kinky RP sex" on their honeymoon by revisiting their distinct outfits; they don't show us pieces of those outfits missing or askew. And everything sexual must be relegated to telling rather than showing – because it's a "family show."

NB: that is not to say that a family show is a bad thing; rather to criticize mft for pushing against the very ethos of the show instead of working with it.

In contrast, rtd!who was much more subtle in all things romance but so much more effective – perhaps in part because romance and sexuality were entwined and both kept at a distance. Everyone knows Rose and the Doctor were canonically in love, but the show implies they never acted on it – he doesn't even ever say the words. And despite it never being an actual plotline, we all know this story thread is woven throughout their time together. It's the epitome of showing vs telling. (Other companions have different situations, but the showing techniques still govern.)

((i fully believe everyone in the rtd!who tardis banged.))

++ the video concluded that none of the showrunners treated women right, and that dw needs a woman showrunner to really accomplish that. And I don't necessarily disagree. But the video also shared nothing but positive examples of rtd's era, his only "shortcoming" not having a female doctor – which I personally don't think was entirely in his power at the time. I don't think dw needs a female showrunner, just one who approaches female characters as people, which rtd has always done (and the video essay agrees with me).

[perpetualfox]

Oh my god smug Gaz goading you to be a brat so Price’ll take his frustrations out on you (instead of him)

Make Me - Kyle 'Gaz' Garrick and John Price x Fem!Reader [NSFW]

Warnings: Dub-Con, Brat Taming, Rough Handling

Wordcount: 1398

Gawrsh this took forever. I changed the vibes of it so many times, maybe I'll post the scraps of the other versions some day. Until then: this.

→“Spread your legs for me.”

→You lean back against the warm expanse of Price’s chest, a lazy grin sliding across your face. Gaz’s weight presses down on you, comfortably heavy in your lap; his hips slotted against your own, strong thighs caging you in on either side. You tip your chin up with a defiant air—it’s cheeky and playful, but defiant, nonetheless.

→“Make me.”

→“Ohhh, are you sure you wanna do that, babe?” Gaz’s eyes shine in the low light, a lopsided grin tugging at the corners of his lips. “Don’t start something you’re not ready to finish.”

→“I absolutely can finish it,” You buck your hips up, grinding your bare pussy hard and slow against him. The slick slide of your flesh against his cock—still frustratingly clothed in the thin grey cotton of his boxer shorts—pulls a groan from the pit of his chest. He twitches against you, and all of a sudden, you can really feel him: he’s filling out nicely by the second, chubbing up against the warm press of your body. You roll your hips again, a contented sigh on your lips as the length of him catches against your clit, “And you couldn’t stop me.”

→“Could so.”

→“Then prove it. You want me to spread my legs? Fucking. Make. Me.”

→And you knew he could. If he so desired, he could have you on your stomach, his tongue buried to the root in your pussy before you could even blink. He could hold you there, thighs spread so far apart your hips creaked in protest, until he’s had his fill of you; until you were sobbing his name; until it was the only coherent world your lips could form. And yet, he hasn’t.

→Why?

→The pleasant rumble of Price’s voice vibrates up through your back, “Play nice.”

→There’s a threat beneath the words—the growl of distant thunder on a picnic perfect afternoon. You know you shouldn’t push him, but oh how that tone makes you want to. It would be so easy—the words were all but pulling on your tongue, burning at the base of your throat.

→You lock eyes with Gaz, and it’s as though he can see into you, reading your thoughts as they surface in your mind. His expression is grave, a stern knot forming between his brows. He tilts his head, looking down at you with dark, serious eyes. The message is silent, but clear: don’t.

→You almost think better of it.

→Almost.

→“Make me, old m—”

→And Price’s hand is at your throat. On some level, you knew you were making a mistake, but it wasn’t until that large, calloused fist closed around your neck that you came to understand the sheer gravity of it. Your breath catches beneath the press of his fingers, and you can feel your eyes going large and round, eyebrows shooting up toward your hairline as you fight not to struggle against him.

→The serious edge of Gaz’s expression melts away, and in its place rises something else—something infinitely more frightening. He looks…smug. Terribly, terribly smug—the very picture of the cat who got the cream, and it’s then that you realize: you’d fallen right into his trap.

→‘Don’t,’ his eyes had said, but he had known you would. Of course he’d known.

→“Oh no.” Price’s voice is a growl, low and gravelly in your ear, “That shit doesn’t fly with me. Gaz might put up with it, but I—” His fingers tighten around you, constricting your throat just enough that you feel it; a buzzy, light-headed sensation at the very back of your skull. It’s enough to make your heartbeat kick up beneath his fingers, “…I am not Gaz. Understood?”

→“Y-Yes, Sir.”

→He barked out a laugh at that, “Oh, so it’s ‘Sir’ now, is it? What happened to ‘old man?’”

→“I-I…um…”

→“Shut up.”

→Your jaw snaps shut with an audible click.

→“So, you do have some sense. Good.” And with that, Price begins to move. His free hand trails down your body, thick fingers skimming across your flesh: your clavicle, your sternum, your stomach, coming to rest at the apex of your thighs. Gaz slid back, tilting his hips up, allowing Price room to maneuver with a hungry glint in his eyes. Those calloused fingers slipped between your clenched thighs with an ease that shocked you—as though he had met with no resistance at all. God, he could do anything he wanted to you, and what could you do to stop him? The idea sent a little thrill through you, a gush of wet heat blooming between your thighs.

→A shudder goes through you as his fingers find your clit, rubbing a tight, rough circle into the sensitive bud. Though his touch does not linger, it leaves you breathless, practically panting for more. He presses forward, fingers slipping against your slick flesh.

→“Is this what gets you off, eh? Being a disobedient little pest?”

→Your cheeks feel hot, your face burning up under his scrutiny. Though you open your mouth, your retort, whatever it may have been, tapers off into a broken gasp as he presses two thick fingers into you.

→“You might think you can act a brat with me, but you’re wrong. You haven’t the spine to do it proper; a hand around your throat and you roll right over.” His breath tickles against the nape of your neck. “But I’ll give you a chance—prove me wrong.”

→He crooks his fingers inside of you, rubbing hard against something that makes your vision fill with flickering stars. Your walls spasm around him and he laughs, fingers stroking relentlessly into that spot, “Go on then.”

→You bite your lip, trying desperately to think through the waves of pleasure that roll over you with each stroke of his fingers, but to no avail. A high, keening whimper slips past your lips. Gaz croons above you, a soft, almost condescendingly sweet sound, “Aww, baby! Does it feel that good?”

→Price’s hand slides up from your throat and grips your chin, his fingers digging into the meat of your cheeks. He turns your head none too gently, forcing you to look into his eyes.

→“That really all it takes? Just two fingers stuffed up your cunt, and you go brainless and pliant?”

→He looks to Gaz, a smile, wicked and keen as the edge of a knife spreading across is face, crinkling the corners of his eyes, “Pathetic, isn’t?”

→Gaz’s expression was a young mirror to Price’s, the sharp points of his teeth poking out between his plush lips, “Utterly.”

→“Now,” Price squeezes your cheeks together, “Look at me.” It takes you a moment for your eyes to focus, the heavy press of Price’s fingers inside of you, and the sight of Gaz, looming above you, his perfect cock leaking into his boxers mere inches from your fingers, it’s no easy task. Still, Price waits until he has your full attention.

→“There you are. The Sergeant gave you an order, didn’t he?” He bobs your head up and down, before turning your face back toward Gaz. He’s looking down at you with hooded eyes, warm and brown, and full of want.

→He’s practically glowing, basking in his triumph, and it’s beautiful. He’s beautiful.

→Price’s chin comes down to rest upon your shoulder, digging into the pressure point in your neck.

→“I suggest you do as he tells you. Or—” He slips his fingers out of your tight heat. “I’ll make damn sure you don’t get yours.” A sob tumbles from your lips as you buck your hips, trying to follow his fingers; to follow the pleasure he’s trying to deny you. You’re empty, desperately so after the stretch of his thick fingers—it was all you could do not to cry, to fall back against him and beg for something inside of you. “Understood?”

→You nod, but it isn’t enough. His hand comes down hard against your pussy. You jolt under his hand, a hoarse cry tearing loose from your throat.

→“Understood?”

→It takes you a moment to find your voice, thin and wavering as it is, “Y-Yes, Sir!”

→“Good. Sergeant?”

→Gaz’s smile is radiant as he leans in to caress your cheek. His palm is warm, his tough achingly tender.

→“I win. Now, open up, Sweetheart.”

→And you do.

→“Good fucking girl.”

[diamondsandlemons]

Hi sorry for being the least normal person on the planet about this but I saw you rbing some The Locked Tomb stuff and it's only been like a week or two since I got extremely into the series and it's nice to see someone I follow also show interest in it around the same-ish time as me! Can I ask abt your take on the books so far n fav character/s?

well I've only read the first book (I'm definitely interested in continuing with the series but I probably won't get to it for a while, esp. since I wanna get back into playing Ace Attorney games, as playing a visual novel kinda takes up the same time slot in my day as reading a novel, yk?) so there's def stuff I don't know abt yet.

but anyway yeah! I did really enjoy it. I appreciate the comedy in it, which I wasn't really expecting since like the cover art is so grim and it opens with some really dense politics stuff and a bunch of long names (that I just know should be pronounced with a british accent but I can't really make my head voice do that) and like the actual plot is very serious with deaths and stuff but nonetheless This Book Has Jokes

and its best when they're the dumbest, simplest jokes you could think of and Gideon says them out loud because thats the kind character she is. love her

Palamedes is great too because he entertains Gideon's antics while also being the one most focused on solving the mystery castle puzzles. (this girl who's been here for like a month and has never spoken a word to anyone is talking to me now? and she's rude? thats fine I'll just roll with it). he's also like the most normal dude in the whole cast. you feel comfortable when he's around

(btw what the hell was up with the thing he discovered about the rooms in Canaan House being from different time periods? like the different rooms are literally different ages? I don't think that was ever explained or brought up again???)

Also, for "lesbian fiction" being basically the one thing everyone says about this series, I was kinda surprised at the lack of a romantic plot in this one? I mean maybe there will be more of that in the other books idk, but like. ok so from the beginning it's very clear that Gideon and Harrow are gonna be the main pair here. and I was a little skeptical they were gonna be able to sell me on that because of where their relationship started, but nahhh I had nothing to worry about. they were meant for each other and enemies to lovers works great it turns out. but like. their relationship definitely improves a lot over the course of the story, but most of the time they don't talk to each other about anything but their jobs. its all bones and skeletons and locked doors with them.

don't get me wrong it has strong gay vibes all the way through (and Gideon is constantly commenting on how hot other women are, which is great) but at no point are Harrow and Gideon actually like. dating. closest they got was when I think it was implied they fucked once, after the pool scene. which like, good for them, I'm glad they got the opportunity to do that before, ah, y'know.

speaking of which I have NO clue what'll happen next based on how it ended. and the brief glimpse of the emperor at the very end was not at all what I expected, so that's curious as well...

OH yeah and speaking of the empire. uh at least the copy of the book that I have has a bunch of bonus material at the end, like in-universe essays and reports (and a pronunciation guide where I frustratingly learned I'd been reading half the characters' names wrong). and ONLY in that bonus material was it ever acknowledged that other inhabited planets exist outside of the empire. like for the whole book it kinda seems like there are nine planets that comprise the empire, and that's it. no humans anywhere else in the universe. no life outside the empire.

sure, the Cohort supposedly fights "enemies of the empire" but that's all that's ever said about that. could be like evil skeletons or some other kind of space monster for all we know. but no there ARE other civilizations, which I guess might be at war with the necromancers? it's cool to know that, that this story's universe is bigger than we've seen, and if I had to guess I'd say bigger than we probably ever will see, since there's still so many ghost/death mysteries and House history stuff our beloved necros have yet to solve.

ok thats probably everything I have to say about Gideon the Ninth for now. thanks for giving me an opportunity to put it all into words, lol

[entities-of-posts]

hello archivist!

i was wondering what your personal ranking of entities based on how much you like them/think theyre neat (if the corruption isnt #1 i will crawl through your window like a worm (threatening))

Hmmm if we’re just going on Vibes and not alignment, it would go a little like this…

The assholes zone:

15. The Desolation. Like the fire aesthetic, hate everything else about it and most of its avatars I’ve met (present company excluded, of course. None of you budding arsonists that occasionally come visit my Archive have antagonized me too much yet which I appreciate.)

14. The Slaughter. Personal grudge. Anyway the Hunt does everything it does but better. Except the music, gotta give it that.

13. The Extinction. New and exciting to figure out, but still the manifestation of one of the shittiest, most infuriating phenomenon of our era.

The “meh” zone:

12. The Dark. Kinda boring and always hiding stuff from Sight, which are both up there on my list of highest crimes. Also feels like it could do better but it just doesn’t, which is disappointing and annoying.

11. The Buried. So-so. Caves are pretty cool though, but only as long as they don’t actually crush you into a pulp, so… It actually takes caves and make them less fun.

10. The Lonely. Mopey. Statements always taste somehow too salty and flavorless at once. Depressing, no kick to them. I can appreciate a good fog though.

9. The Flesh. Meat is meat, whatever, who hasn’t eaten a little bit of human flesh at some point, not worth the fuss. Feels like its avatars could do some pretty impressive body sculptures, but most just… don’t do anything that interesting, which is probably because everyone who’s got gory inclinations but also actual artistic talent goes with the Stranger.

8. The End. I personally don’t especially worry or care about it, but the aesthetic is a solid 8/10 and its avatars are usually polite.

The cool kids zone:

7. The Corruption. (I know, I know, not first place. Sorry Anna.) Like the bugs, like the mushrooms, a little less fond of the plagues. Statements are a bit of an acquired taste, but you get used to the whiff of mold eventually. Actually kinda sweet, which is pretty rare for Dread Powers. Endearing.

6. The Stranger. Fun loving folks, throw absolutely indescribable parties which is both a pro and a con, easily one of the best styles, and a real sense of grotesque and panache I truly appreciate in a statement. Kind of annoying to try and See through all the smoke and mirrors though.

5. The Hunt. Not always the most pleasant of avatars, but how exhilarating! Truly gets your blood pumping like nothing else! Neither my favorite nor least favorite aesthetic-wise, but an old classic for sure.

4. The Vast. Whose heart doesn’t skip a beat at the sight of the immensity? Who doesn’t feel l’appel du vide tugging at their guts? Isn’t the vertigo just like infatuation, when you think about it? Very very beautiful, maybe a bit too open and empty to have the kind of mystery that really pulls me it.

3. The Eye. Hi 👁 Well obviously I like this one, don’t think I need to expend on that. All the extra eyeballs are a really good look if I do say so myself. We’re a bunch of nerds though I can’t deny it.

2. The Spiral. I’ve spoken at length about how fascinating and exasperating this one is already. Very enthralling colors and pattern that always gets burned into my retinas and give me a headache because I keep staring too long. Avatars can be the cockiest most chaotic bastards out there but they’re always fun and interesting and some of them are even nice. Also I’m honestly so jealous of the Doors those seem so unfairly useful.

1. The Web. Absolute queen. Unlike the Eye, not so busy being knowledgeable she forgets to be clever. I am far far too fond of the Spiders for my own good and they can be so frustratingly secretive but you don’t have all the facts. Which are: I love them.

There we go! Yes I put two of the most violent and destructive Entities at the very bottom of the list, what are they gonna do, try to kill me again? Probably, but look how well that went last time.

[marsofaries]

The Itsy Bitsy Spider {Katsuki Bakugou x Reader}

Word Count: 2.6k

Warnings: Cursing, Blood, Assault

Summary: Your grumpy (and ridiculously attractive) neighbor helps you rid of the spider in your new apartment. Things grow from there.

Notes: fem!Reader, ProHero!Bakugou, Bakugou hates feelings

That’s it. You were moving out.

So what, that you just managed to unpack the last box in your new apartment? One look at that eight-legged... creature, and it was their apartment now. You weren’t trying to be dramatic, but spiders were the absolute bane of your existence.

This led to you shakily standing over the said arachnid, a large All Might mug trembling faintly in your hands. 

“Oh shit, oh fuck-- FUCK!” You shrieked as the spider took a quick dart to its left. Nope. No way.

It had taken about an hour before the spider was successfully captive. Another hour to finally figure out what to do next. 

And now there you were, pacing back and forth in front of your neighbor’s front door, mumbling failed greetings to yourself like a desperate prayer.

“Hi, I’m-- that’s not right. How about ‘I just moved in and--.’ God, I sound like an idiot.” Gathering all of your courage, you rapped three quick knocks on the front of the wood. The urge to bolt was suddenly very powerful.

“I swear to God, Shitty Hair, if you-- Oh.” The door was suddenly swung open to reveal the most gorgeous person you had ever seen in your whole life. With biceps the size of your head, the man completely dwarfed you in size. He almost took up the entire space of the door, his spikey blond locks brushing the top the frame. Vermillion eyes stared at you cautiously as you forgot everything you were about to say. “The fuck you want?”

As you made no move to answer, the Greek god of a man pulled his lips into a scowl. 

“What are you, a fucking stalker or somethin’?”

That definitely brought you out of your reverence.

“W-What? No!”

A scoff left the man’s lips, and you suddenly wanted nothing more that to kick him straight in the jewels. However, you were on a mission. A mission to rid a tiny eight-eyed demon from your living room.

“There was a, uh...spider.” You slowly trailed off, waving weakly in the direction of your apartment across the hall.

 “A spider? Really?” The blond questioned condescendingly, rolling his stupidly-perfect crimson eyes.

A light flush brushed your cheeks in embarrassment as you stared down at your shoes. You were sure he was going to slam the door right in your face. But he didn’t.

The man brushed right past you, marching right though your open door-- making sure to loudly mumble as many complaints as he could. You stumbled after the tall blond, failing to keep up with his abnormally long strides.

You watched in silence as he crouched by the downturned mug, raising a single perfectly-sculpted brow. However, your silence was quickly turned into a squeak of horror when your neighbor dumped the spider into his bare-hand. 

For a moment of absolute terror, you thought the stranger was going to throw it at you.

Wide-eyed, you watched as he pushed open the nearest window and placed the spider on the railing of your fire-escape. Having pushed the window back down, the man turned back to leave your apartment. As he walked past, he shoved the now (thankfully) empty mug to your chest.

“W-wait!”

He paused, sliding his crimson gaze to yours.

“M-My name is (Y/L/N)… (Y/L/N) (Y/N).”

You weren’t quite sure why you felt the need to give him your name. Maybe it was because he helped you when you were absolutely sure he wouldn’t. Or maybe how he decided to let the bug free instead of kill it. Maybe it was the amused huff he let out when he heard your terrified squeak. Perhaps it was all three. You didn’t know.

His striking red eyes suddenly raked your frame before a smirk settled confidently on his all-too-attractive lips.

“Bakugou Katsuki.”

~~~

“HOLD THE FUCKING DOOR!” 

You let out a squeak at the sudden yell, sticking the toe of your nude-colored pumps between the sliding elevator doors. A muscled arm wedged itself between the doors, pulling them back open.

“You.” You breathed as none other than your extremely hot neighbor was revealed. The blond was clad in a loose black V-neck and sweatpants-- a large duffel bag thrown over his shoulder. His hair was slightly damp, as small beads of water dropped off the edge of his spikes every couple of seconds.

“Stalker.” He acknowledged with a grunt. The corner of Bakugou’s lips shot up at your protests.

The ride down to the lobby was relatively silent and slightly awkward. You kept switching your weight on both legs as you struggled to find something to say.

“The fuck you dressed so fancy for?” The explosive blond finally said. You couldn’t help but let out a breath of relief at the break in silence.

“I got a new job at All Might Bank!” You were pretty excited, as it was your first day. The bank itself was pretty fancy, and you were cheery that it was named after the old symbol of peace. All Might had been your favorite hero growing up but you grew out of your hero phase as you had gotten older. Nowadays you couldn’t tell one hero from the other.

You turned to Bakugou with a smile, content that he even cared about your life. It was quite a surprise when compared with the vibes he gave off.

“What about you?” You asked cheerily. 

“... Agency.” He grunted.

“Oh! Are you a model or something?” You knew it! There was no way that a man as attractive as Bakugou Katsuki was not the cover of every magazine. He was, just not for the reasons you thought. You watched in confusion as the explosive blond emitted a loud snort.

“Or something...”

DING!

You were almost sad as the elevator dinged, signaling the end of the ride. Although it was short, and mostly awkward, you found yourself enjoying his company. You walked side by side until you reached the doors to outside, pausing slightly when he went to part.

“Thank you.”

Bakugou froze at your expressed gratitude, studying your figure with renewed interest.

“You know... for the spider?” You seemed to lose all cognitive brain function when he looked at you with those frustratingly gorgeous vermillion eyes. Bakugou scoffed and turned away, muttering a quiet response. Little did you know that he was trying to hide a light blush.

“Whatever...”

~~~

You were happy to say that these shared elevator rides became a daily ritual, to the point where Bakugou started to bring you his delicious leftovers for your lunch (he made the meals especially for you, but would die before he ever admitted that). Before you knew it, you were quite smitten with the blond.

You couldn’t help but replay this morning’s occurrence in your head as you filed checking account after checking account.

 “Good morning, Bakugou-kun!” You called as you exited your apartment. You didn’t even have to look anymore. Bakugou had a habit of waiting for you outside your door to give you his most current dish. 

“Morning.” He grunted in response, hating the way his heart skipped a beat.

His eyes scanned over your form, (longer than considered friendly) as he checked your outfit. Bakugou always seemed to have some sort of fashion-ready advice on the tip of his tongue, and with you still thinking he was a model-- you were more that happy to comply. And also for the fact that he really did have a good eye for it.

“Undo the top two buttons… you look like a nerd.”

Your eyes quickly flashed to your white button-up, pulling at the two buttons with one hand.

“Better?”

Bakugou only grunted in approval. He was trying to act like he wasn’t on the verge of kissing the ever-lasting life out of you.

~~~

“Hey, Newbie! Get me a coffee, will ya?” You were quickly pulled out of your daydream by one of your (slightly arrogant) bosses.

“Of course, sir.” You answered as you hurried to the other side of the bank. You’ve been at your new job (and apartment) for about a month, and they still won’t let up on the whole “newbie” stuff. 

You sighed as you waited by the coffee maker, situated right to the left of the big glass entrance. Oh, how you would have loved to pour that coffee right over your boss’ head. Too lost in your own head, you failed to notice the suspicious group of men heading straight for the vault until one of them grabbed your arm.

“What the fu--”

“EVERYBODY DOWN OR SHE DIES!” 

Oh shit! Oh fuck! Your mind was reeling at a million miles per hour. The man had pulled you to where your back was to his front, and had a blade pressed against your throat. It seemed to come out of the inside of his wrist, being a relatively deadly quirk if handled correctly.

Everyone within the pristine building froze but quickly dropped to the floor after some warning shots from one of the robbers. Another suddenly morphed into some sort of beast and marched to the steel vault door.

You suddenly wished that you had a more physical quirk, cursing it for being so useless in this situation. Yeah, you knew basic self-defense, but it would be futile with three other villains in your midst.

Minutes felt like hours, and you could only hope that someone had alerted the police and nearby heroes. You winced as the blade dug into the delicate skin of your throat.

A sudden explosion burst through the skylight of the building, raining glass shards on the hostages. All at once, people were screaming, running, and blast after blast started ringing in your ears. You let out a sigh of relief.

The heroes were here.

Using the distraction, you quickly gripped the man’s arm tight below the base of the blade. You pulled it away from your neck ever so slightly, ducking your head to pull yourself through the gateway you had created. Keeping your hands locked at the base of the robber’s wrist, you twisted his arm and shoved up-- forcing it to pop from its socket.

A sudden bump to your shoulder from a running hostage caused you to slip up on your little self-defense sequence, allowing the man to break from your grip. He whipped around to face you, holding his dislocated arm. You panicked, so... you socked him in the face.

He let out an enraged cry, thick blood gushing from his nose. You were a bit surprised with how easy it was to land a hit on him. You thought that villains would have been more prepared before robbing a bank named after All Might.

Oh, well.

You punched him again in the nose for good measure, and he was out like a light. His hot red blood coated your knuckles, and you gagged in disgust. Ew. You wiped the back of your dominant hand on you button-up absentmindedly, before being shoved to the floor by your panicking boss. Wow. Your limbs felt like mush now that the adrenaline was wearing off, and you suddenly couldn’t find the strength to pick yourself off of the floor.

A final explosion went off, followed by the most desperate and wretched call you had ever heard in your entire life. And the call... sounded suspiciously like your name.

Your eyes shot up at the scream, searching frantically for the owner of that voice. You knew that voice, you only ever heard it in grunts and light-hearted mocking sentences, but you knew that voice.

“Katsuki.” You breathed, eyes suddenly locked on familiar crimson irises. 

Relief flooded his features as he saw you, and was at your side in seconds-- dropping quickly to his knees. 

“Oh my god.” Bakugou breathed, grabbing your head and cradling it tight to his chest and-- what the fuck was he wearing? Wait, there was no way... he was the explosion hero you saw on the news! Holy fuck!

“You scared the shit out of me! Do you know how terrified I was when I heard there was trouble at your work?! And you didn’t answer your goddamn phone? Jesus Christ, (Y/N).” Worried rambles fell rapidly out of Bakugou’s lips, seemingly void of any filter. You would have been ecstatic by his cute little worrying if your mind wasn’t reeling by the fact that your crush neighbor was one of the top ten heroes in Japan.

He suddenly grasped both sides of your face and pulled back so you were eye to eye.

“Are you hurt? I swear to God, if someone hurt you-- I’ll fucking kill them.” Bakugou’s eyes were frantically scanning your face, looking for any sign of injury.

“...Katsuki?” You mumbled softly, and he immediately froze. He felt his heart lurch in his throat as his name tumbled from your lips. You, on the other hand, were completely, and utterly lost. “You’re a pro-hero?”

“....What?” Bakugou questioned dumbly. “You could have been seriously hurt and that’s the first thing you think about?”

“What? I thought you were a model.” You whined, lightly smacking his chest.

At this, Bakugou let out a loud laugh, and you just watched in awe. You had never seen him laugh before. Even though half his face was smeared in black makeup and little injuries littered his skin-- it was the most beautiful thing you had ever seen in your life. He pulled back to look at you, but suddenly froze.

“You’re hurt! Why the fuck didn’t you tell me?!” Bakugou shouted, spotting bright red stains on the front of your blouse. You quickly grabbed his hand, hoping to soothe his panicking.

“Hey, hey!” You yelped, gaining his attention. “It’s not mine.” 

You gestured over to the villain knocked out next to you.

“Holy shit.” Katsuki breathed, before turning his vermillion gaze back to yours. A quiet, amused huff escaped his lips. “So you’re afraid of a spider, but can knock out a villain?” He questioned teasingly.

A light blush covered your cheeks, causing you to force your eyes down. You suddenly noticed just how close you two were. You were situated about half way onto Bakugou’s lap, as one of his large hands softly held your waist. The other was still trapped between your own. This caused your blush to only darken.

“Hey, eyes up here.” Bakugou muttered, lifting his hand from your waist and to the base of your chin. You force your eyes back up to his, but couldn’t help but sneak a quick glance to his lips. However, Bakugou saw it, and that was all it took.

Bakugou crashed his lips onto yours, and you were quick to respond. You tangled your hands within his soft blond locks, allowing him to completely dominate the kiss. His hands held you tightly to his body, refusing to give even an inch of space between you two. He didn’t let go even as you pulled back for air, his lips chasing after yours.

Time seemed to stop while he was kissing you, and every one was distressed with the thought of losing you. It was soft and sweet, and then rough and desperate-- the sweet smell of caramel, of Bakugou, invading all of your senses. 

You finally broke for air, breaths mingling shamelessly. Bakugou rested his forehead on yours, wanting nothing more than to never let you go.

“I’m so glad I found you, Stalker.”

Bonus:

A low whistle dragged out across bank, turning the couples’ gazes over to a certain hardening hero.

“SHITTY HAIR, I SWEAR TO--”

The End.

Notes:  This was my first imagine! I hope you guys liked it!

The police watching the final scene like: 👁👄👁 can we go home?

[opal-nite]

delicate; b.barnes

chapter six - “lake, the sequel”

delicate masterlist

word count: 1.7k

synopsis: reader seeks out bucky after his dramatic exit and they find themselves earnestly conversing... back at the lake

pairings: bucky barnes x fem!reader

[A/N]: this story is available on my wattpad as a bucky x OC fic @ / typicaldaze :)

He didn't like this feeling. No, he didn't like this feeling at all. He hated it, in fact. It was betrayal, bodily betrayal. He just could not sit in that room any longer or he would've peeled his skin off. His lungs felt as if they were bound with barbed wire and the state of his stomach had him worried he was going to throw up. Most of all he felt guilty. How could he have just stormed out of the room like that? She was going to hate him now. How could he let this happen?

He was thinking this over whilst sitting at the lake, hands in the grass, trying to distract the physical body from the mental cacophony he had just endured. He had somehow found his way there after leaving Y/N. These extremely unpleasant sensations were unfamiliar. Was he sick? Could he have been drugged? He was so confused. Bucky realized he seemed to be confused most of the time. Following that realization, he became mildly pissed off.

The super soldier stared out at the lake. It was a calm day, the water tranquil and clear. It was a stark contrast against his stress. He leaned forward and looked into the water at his reflection.

"Damn," he said out loud.

Is that really what I look like now?

His eyes traced over the long shaggy hair, dark under eyes, and the subtle but noticeable worry lines. This sight reminded him of when he broke the mirror at his old place in Bucharest. Now he remembered why. God, he looked as fucked up as he was. He leaned back and tossed a stone at where his reflection had been.

A deep sigh left his lungs, which were now conveniently working properly.

"Fuckers," he muttered, referring to the mercurial organs.

He had spent nearly two years alone in Bucharest, and he had grown accustomed to living in this new body. He was always on edge, that much he could tell. However, he was never too introspective; he never thought about his feelings or his behavior. All he was focused on was surviving. When there is more to life than survival, that's when things get complicated... not that they weren't complicated before. God, he was running in circles inside his own mind. His scarred and ruined and manipulated mind that resided in this body that was used as a tool for destruction and violence and death-

"Hey."

His head whipped around, startled out of his thought frenzy. Always on edge. Mentally, he shook his head in disappointment.

"Oh! (Y/N)!"

He stood up immediately. "Listen, I'm so sorry about before, I don't know what-"

"It's okay," she said quickly, holding up her hands. "Bucky, you do not need to apologize, everything is totally fine."

He was taken aback. Words didn't seem to work.

"I'm not mad if that's what you were thinking," she said.

"You're not?"

"No, of course not. If anything I was worried."

"I- Worried?"

"Yes, you were clearly in distress, and that room was the last place you wanted to be. I'm glad you found your way back here because you look much better now," (Y/N) explained with earnest eyes.

She could tell he was freaked out? She probably thinks he's insane.

"Yeah, I... I think I'm better now."

He was far from okay, but definitely better than before.

The psychologist sat down next to where he was standing. He didn't move, but looked down at her.

"I don't think it'd be wise to leave you alone here considering you're supposed to be in a session with me right now and you can't go anywhere without an escort. It would most likely lead to suspicion and then trouble you don't need. I'm going to stay with you. We can continue the session if you'd like, but if not we can just sit."

She said this all while looking straight forward at the water.

In all honesty he wasn't sure what to say, so he settled with a breathy, "Okay," before sitting down next to her.

"I'm getting the vibe that this is more of a just sit situation..."

"Yeah... I think I'm all therapy-ed out for today," Bucky said in a meek attempt at a joke.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw a wide smile. He then realized that she didn't know he could see it, and that's why this smile seemed different. Most differents in Bucky's life hadn't been outstandingly pleasant. But this was a welcome different. This was a good different. It was genuine and unbridled. That was the most open he'd ever seen her.

Every now and then he forgot that he was a literal trained super spy. He may not have any PhD's, but he had his own way of reading behavior, cues, and subtleties. Perhaps he'd make an effort to be more observant. Perhaps he wanted to learn a little more about what else was behind this new different.

A few beats of comfortable silence passed before he heard the word again.

"Hey," (Y/N) started softly. "I'm sorry if I went a little too far today. I know I said our first session wouldn't be much, but I realize I was pushing too far."

"Oh, it's okay," Bucky replied, looking down at the grass between his knees. "I think it's more my fault anyway. It's not like the questions were super intense."

He let out a loaded sigh. "I don't know what's wrong with me."

"Bucky it's really okay. If it's anyone's fault it's mine. This whole process is supposed to be based on your comfort levels and at your own pace. And there's nothing wrong with you. Your reaction was completely normal given the circumstances."

Bucky wasn't terribly familiar with reassurance. He turned his head, looking at her dead on. She was so genuine, like she knew all of what she was saying was the all encompassing truth.

Echoes of different combinations of "there's nothing wrong with you" and "completely normal" and "your own pace" flitted around inside him until they melted into a feeling he hadn't felt in so long: hope. It was horrifying... yet it gave him a kind of relief he didn't know he could feel.

The super soldier then realized that (Y/N) was looking right back at him dead on. He was about to stumble through some sort of apology for staring or thankful expression for her kindness, but he noticed that she didn't look like she was necessarily waiting for a response. She was just... looking.

Bucky tried to say something, anything. But he just couldn't seem to pull his eyes away. In this brief moment, he felt crystallized. His conscious, logical brain was somewhere far away, hypnotized by the stillness of the moment. It was only a few seconds, but somehow felt longer. These very few seconds of mental sedation were soon over.

Speak, idiot.

He snapped back to reality, suddenly finding himself inspecting at the grass below him.

"Thank you."

"Of course," she replied without missing a beat. Her tone of voice was water soft.

"(Y/N), do you... do you know what happened with me earlier?" he asked, cautiously. "Like, what was wrong- I mean, not wrong but why I-"

He sighed frustratingly, cutting himself off.

Her face was patient, but she was waiting for a description of something he didn't know how to describe.

"I know I said we were done for today, but I-I don't know how to explain it, and I want to know what it is," he confessed.

"I think you had an anxiety attack."

Anxiety? That couldn't be right. There's no way that could've been from being nervous.

"What?" he asked incredulously.

"Anxiety. It seemed as though you were experiencing high amounts of anxiety. Most people get nervous at times, but those tiny amounts are normal. But, some other people are a lot more nervous a lot more of the time. Sometimes, these peoples' anxiety can get particularly high and be so overwhelming that their body kinda takes over, and they can experience really uncomfortable physical symptoms, and this can turn into an anxiety attack."

"I thought I was... sick or... or drugged or something."

"Well, I'm almost certain you weren't drugged, and I'm pretty sure you can't even get sick."

"Oh."

He honestly didn't know what to say.

"Bucky," she looked straight at him again and he almost felt himself slipping. "In terms of psychology, a lot has progressed since the 40's. I'm not sure how anxiety was presented or studied then, but there's really a lot more to it than people think. And honestly, given your situation, it would be strange if you didn't develop an anxiety disorder."

Anxiety disorder?

"Anxiety disorder? I have that?"

"Well, again, I think we have to do more work to confirm, but that's what it seems like."

"I thought you said I had PTSD?"

"I do. I think you have both."

Christ.

"Wow, I'm a whole sack 'a problems, aren't I?" he chuckled, giving up on trying to internally oppose his short comings.

"You're not a problem, Buck. You had to deal with a whole sack of problems, though," she smiled.

The nickname didn't miss his radar. Was that the first time she's called him that? He ignored how he liked it.

"That's for damn sure."

They conversed for a while after that, and didn't seem to notice how late it was until the sun began to set. The ending day's reflection on the water created an aura so relaxing Bucky didn't want to move. But alas, reality calls.

(Y/N) stood up. "If you're not back soon, they'll start looking for you. We should probably get going."

Bucky stood up, too, following her request.

"I'll walk you back to your quarters," she offered.

And so they went, conversation continuing naturally, as if they were old friends. Bucky found it strange that someone he knew so little was so easy to talk to. He brushed it off as some inherent therapist quality.

He still found her hard to read although he knew her more with each passing word between them.

Despite all of this, the walk back, with cool air, a melting sky, and languid steps, was the best thing he had experienced since coming out of cryo. His memory may be spotty, and his mind may be rough, but this, this he was sure of.

[lilac-melody]

Breaking Down Sia’s Movie

Okay, so I watched Sia’s movie “Music”. And I bear witnessed how awful it truly is. So before I get into this, here’s some warnings:

1. This is going to be a long post

2. There will be mentions of restraint scenes and how they’re handled as well as images. View at your own discretion.

3. There are Spoilers so if for some godforsaken reason you WANT to see this movie...don’t click “keep reading”

Okay, so before I get into the actual contents of the movie let me say the characters all suck. Not a single character was likable and the plot was barely coherent. The main character, Kazu (or just “Zu”) is a recovering alcoholic and she’s just,,, all around not a good person. She’s very irresponsible.

Ebo, her love interest, is also shitty. Not only is his character based on racism to make the white girl look heroic and brave, but he doesn’t actually know how to take care of Music, the autistic girl.

There was also this weird subplot with this fat Asian guy but we’ll get to that later.

And another thing to address there’s like about roughly 10 music videos sprinkled in throughout the movie??? And almost all except ONE of them were extremely bright and colorful and each time I had to keep looking away. Not only that but ALL of the transitions from “reality to music” was always very sudden and has sent me into sensory overload.

And one last thing before we dive into this- Music stims a lot. And yet in her music videos in her mind, she’s not stimming...like, at all. Considering Sia researched with AutismSpeaks, I’m sure she has the idea that stimming is a bad thing.

So the movie begins with Blackface and immediately we jump into extreme bright lights and music. Music wakes up, and we get a feel of her daily routine. Get up, eat eggs, have her hair braided, go on a walk, come home, watch tv, go to bed. (Or at least that’s the generalization of it) And I DO mention this schedule because it’s important later.

As we already know, Music (who is played by Maddie Ziegler, a neurotypical actress) has very exaggerated movements. She has this very weird way of walking and constantly looks like she’s doped up on medications and is high off her ass.

Everyone around her treats her like a toddler, being overly friendly and being all around accepting and caring of her.

Now I bring this up because that in itself is already problematic. It makes neurotypical people think “oh it must be great being autistic people will buy you things, give you free stuff and you’re so unaware!” when this is the furthest thing from reality. If people saw someone like Music out and about, they would be giving her dirty looks, they wouldn’t buy her free things, they’d move away from her.

Autistic people are not that accepted into society. You’re more likely to get cussed out than helped.

So Music returns home, and finds her grandmother, her previous caretaker, dead on the ground. She has no reaction, just smiling and giggling away and sits down.

One thing I noticed about Music is that she’s literally always stimming. Like, LITERALLY always. There is not a single moment on screen where she’s NOT stimming. And that’s not to say it’s bad but it feels way too forced and honestly? It felt and looked more like a mockery of autistic people who need to stim often.

So George, a man next door, came over to help fix something in the apartment. And it was only After he came in that Music got worried about her grandma. Or at least she was lowkey panicking. This is when Zu comes into the movie and gets a call and has to now come take care of Music.

Also apparently the fat Asian neighbor would??? Flash a flashlight in her room while she’s in bed and move it around as if she was some sort of cat??? I’m pretty sure that scene was just an excuse to launch into the second music video of the movie.

So Music wakes up and echoes “Make you eggs” to Zu, who makes her eggs. Remember the routine I mentioned? How Music gets her hair braided as she’s eating? Well, as Zu’s going back to bed, Music starts echoing “Braid your hair”. Zu doesn’t know how.

So Sia incorporated a meltdown scene of Music being stressed of the routine is being broken. Music starts hitting her head and thrashing around screaming “braid your hair” repeatedly. Zu not knowing what to do tries to pin her against the wall and was literally screaming at her to calm down.

And this is where we met Ebo, Zu’s love interest. He noticed Music having a meltdown and...well...

Zu questions if he’s hurting Music and...

And after that, everything is suddenly all perfectly fine because Music understands that Ebo doesn’t want her hurt and she needs to calm down. And it’s also wonderfully okay because he can braid her hair. She goes back to breakfast as if nothing happened.

Obviously this is extremely problematic. Restraining autistics during a meltdown is a very sure way to kill them. If a neurotypical is reading this and is doubtful, here is one instance of an autistic boy being restrained and killed.

After that, Zu and Ebo follow Music on her walk to get to know her route. After returning, Zu makes a comment about how she’s thinking about sending Music to a “people pound” and then adds “oh but I guess I can keep her”??? Honestly if you took this scene out of context I’d be wondering if they were actually talking about a fucking animal.

Zu later finds some of her old toys and talks to Music about them and mentions how someone “has seizures just like Music”.

Um...when did Music have seizures? This was NEVER brought up prior to this and it will never be mentioned throughout the movie. A meltdown! Is not! A seizure!!

The movie follows Zu around being irresponsible, borrowing money, and so forth.

And then we get to the park scene. Hey remember the first meltdown scene? Music had a meltdown about her routine being broken? Yeah that doesn’t happen. Zu flat out says that the change of route is good for her and Music just happily goes along with it with that dopey ass expression on her face.

Ebo explains that Music wears her headphones “because her hearing is so sensitive she can hear whispering from two rooms away”. First of all, we autistic people are NOT superhuman.

After he says that he says “she can understand everything we are saying” and yet they literally have to repeat themselves several times to get her to understand. They don’t treat her like she understands them. They treat her like a two year old who doesn’t know any better. That was literally the vibe I got throughout the entire movie, especially at some later scenes.

So Music sees some kids running around and that sends her into a meltdown. And Zu wants Ebo to restrain her like he did at the apartment and...um.

Ooooooookayyyyyy. Yeah, that’s your problem??? Okay make the tall white girl be a “hero” then.

Oh yeah just like that!

Also what the fuck is Music’s expression here??? This is a normal look for her throughout the movie and she’s having a Meltdown.

Oh and after Music “calms down” from the meltdown??? She’s back to being 100% PERFECTLY HAPPY.

AGAIN, NEUROTYPICALS, DO NOT THINK THIS IS OKAY!!!!! NONE OF US ARE LIKE THAT!!! IF YOU RESTRAIN AN AUTISTIC YOU WILL MAKE THEM PANIC MORE AND POSSIBLY KILL THEM!!!

So, we keep going on with the movie, following Zu continuing to be irresponsible and frustratingly impossible to care about.

And at one point, she has to bring Music with her to this place where she “works”. And on the way there she tells Music to “not do one of her freakouts and just get it out now”.

Um...so sorry that a meltdown is causing YOU trouble??? A MELTDOWN IS NOT A FUCKING TANTRUM!!!!!!!!!

Later, when walking, Music wanted a snowcone, so Zu got her one. While she was getting her one, Music, QUITE LITERALLY OUT OF NOWHERE, lays on the ground under the bench and starts to eat gum from it.

...Um. What??? Why??? To show us how “hard” it is being with an autistic girl??? Literally what was the point of this scene???

So, afterwards, Music gets stung by a bee, which she’s allergic to. Zu restrained her while she was screaming, though it was brief, it was still uncomfortable. She gets brought to the hospital and she’s gonna be okay because she had an EpiPen with her.

But the doctors say that Zu’s occupation is empty for the insurance.

And here’s where I got from pissed and annoyed to downright uncomfortable.

Zu realizes her bag is missing and for several minutes, she literally starts screaming in pure anger and frustration, at home she’s searching, throwing things, kicking things, screaming some more...

Like WHY isn’t ZU being restrained??? Why is it acceptable for her to do that but it’s bad for Music to have a meltdown??? Honestly when Zu started screaming and throwing things, I actually flinched.

Oh also during these scenes the fat Asian kid was taking Ebo’s boxing class and hugged his opponent during a match and I guess at his apartment his parents argued about that (they didn’t include subtitles on that bit as they were speaking another language....nice. Note the sarcasm.)

and the dad literally attacks his wife and throws his son aside...and the fat Asian kid dies.

So like...what was the point of the kid dude??? No, seriously, what was the point? To buy Music a watermelon pop at the start of the movie??? We didn’t get ANY information about him or ANYTHING. And he just up and dies. Like if you take all his scenes out of the movie, nothing would change.

While the kid’s dying, Zu’s so stressed that she gets drunk and tries to talk to Ebo, but she gets loud and emotional and a neighbor comes out and Zu drunkenly attacks him.

Oh, so even if Zu is drunk and attacking people, pushing them, etc, SHE doesn’t get restrained. She just gets told stop. Okay. Sure.

Zu goes to a bar, returns home after another annoying music number, and makes Music her breakfast before she goes on her walk.

Ebo visits, and he practically says “aight I’mma focus on my own health I’m out”.

Zu starts becoming actually clean after that, she and Music staying with George.

There was pretty much just a dumb montage of her life after that??? One bit was Music having ANOTHER meltdown (for unexplained reasons) and Zu grabbing her yelling to calm down.

After some time Zu decides to drop Music off at a mental health facility, and when they were there, Music suddenly starts saying “don’t go sis” and “sit down now”.

Hold up.

So this movie is telling me that Music is nonverbal, but she can say some phrases, and also she understands what’s going on and YET NO ONE IN THIS ENTIRE MOVIE HAS TREATED HER LIKE SHE’S A HUMAN BEING WHO KNOWS WHAT’S GOING ON...suddenly, out of nowhere, she knows what’s going on. She suddenly knows she’s about to be left alone and suddenly she can talk more than repeated phrases.

I...I don’t think that’s how that works there, chief!

Zu changes her mind and she and Music go to the wedding that Ebo is at. Ebo is a guest at his brother and ex-wife’s wedding. (Which he mentioned earlier in the film and said he’ll tell Zu the rest of his story later which he never does btw)

and while he’s on stage finishing his speech, which is about how he doesn’t know what love is, Zu and Music come running in and Zu goes up on stage and basically tells him she’s now clean and she’s learning to love. And suddenly Ebo’s in love with Zu and introduces her to his entire family at the wedding, share a kiss and then everyone started clapping.

...No, I’m not kidding. Everyone was applauding them. At his brother’s wedding.

They start to play a song, but then Music starts kinda quietly kinda brokenly singing, it was hard to hear but yeah.

And then it cuts to another bright music video and the movie THANKFULLY ENDS.

GOD. That was so frustrating to watch.

I hated the characters, I hated the plot, I hated how Sia chose to “represent” autistic people, it was all a one, big, irritating MESS.

And in the end, do we learn ANYTHING about autism??? NO.

In fact, if I was a neurotypical with NO knowledge of autism, I would assume autism makes you some stupid 2 year old that you need to restrain when they’re stressed.

I wish I was kidding.

Just because some autistics are incapable of fully taking care of themselves doesn’t mean they’re just “teehee brain empty everyone around me is in a super bright music video!” like what the fuck???

This movie was problemtic, offensive, and WHY is it titled “MUSIC” when literally Zu is the protagonist??? Zu is the protagonist, her main story is about her and Ebo falling in love, and her subplot was...taking care of Music.

And then the mini subplots of the movie too. I genuinely don’t understand the point of the Asian kid. And Once, Ebo mentioned needing medication but they never bring THAT up again either.

Even if you erased Music’s character entirely in this movie and it wasn’t about a recovering alcoholic taking care of her autistic sister, the movie would be trash, poorly made, poorly executed, poorly directed.

And, the site I used did NOT add any warnings about restraint NOR did it say “hey don’t restrain autistics in a meltdown” or anything. And considering this movie had 4 RESTRAINT SCENES (2 of them being fleshed out and the others being quicker)...that’s pretty bad.

All around, this movie was awful.

-50/10, I would sooner watch 2019′s Cats.

[kn1feinthec0ffee]

in too deep (part 3)- jules

jules x reader

warnings: language, anxiety, creepiness, some violence, homophobia, overall just weird vibes (if you’ve seen the movie you know what i’m talking about)

TW: MENTIONS OF NON-CON (please don’t read if you’re triggered by this!! this was the bit of the story i had to change for the story to make sense since i swapped mickey’s gender. it doesn’t actually happen, but if the threat triggers you, do NOT READ!!!)

notes: i’m gonna try and keep this one shorter bc writing long chapters stresses me out

also! i’m writing this based on a pdf of the original script for the movie, so some dialogue may be different, or it may be my own creation because believe it or not, there are times that i do in fact possess creativity!!

you woke up with a jolt, dreams of the strangest variety plaguing your subconscious. you reached up to touch your pounding head- well, at least you would’ve if it wasn’t restrained. 

  “what the hell?” you tugged on the handcuffs, quickly realizing your legs were tied down, too, rendering you completely immobile. upon discovering this, you began to panic, breaking out in a cold sweat as you called out for your security blanket. “jules! jules!” 

  “she’s not gonna hear you. she’s down in the basement with sweetiepie.” gloria said calmly as she entered the room. 

not impressed with her answer, you questioned her. “what are you gonna do to her?” 

  “my, my. you asked about her safety before even questioning yours! the bond the two of you share must be stronger than i thought.” she mused, looking down at your panicked expression. “your belle is safe and sound, don’t worry. but if you want to see her again, you’re going to have to cooperate.”

  “cooperate? what the fuck are you gonna do to me?” you wrenched at your restraints, your heart rate beginning to pick up sufficiently. you depended on jules more than any other person in your life, and without her, you began to quickly unravel. 

  “just sit tight, all will be revealed soon enough.” gloria stated with an eerie smile. you hated how calm she was, it made you feel like she knew something you didn’t. “would you like to see some photos of my son?”

was she serious? look at some photos of her son? all you wanted was their car! how did you end up in this mess? the sudden aggravation caused you to lose your composure. 

  “no, i don’t wanna see any pictures of your fucking son! i wanna get my girlfriend and that fucking kid and get the fuck out of here!” you screamed. “i wanna get the fuck away from you and your crazy ass husband! i wa-” your sudden outburst was cut off by a firm slap, giving you little time to react before gloria had you in a chokehold.

  “you keep your damn mouth shut! you won’t refer to anyone in this family like that under my roof!” you spat in her face, taking in a wheezing breath as she let go of you to wipe her face. her sudden anger morphed into what you assumed was her signature brand of unnerving calmness. 

  “you wanted to know what i’m going to do to you? i’ll tell you.” she smiled creepily. “you see, george and i have wanted our own children for the longest time, but that’s just not what the good lord had planned for us. so think of yourself as a vessel for us. an oven for our bun, if you will.”

your jaw dropped, the color in your face draining as your eyes widened in shock. “fuck! what the fuck? that’s so fucking fucked up! you’re not gonna fucking touch me, you bitch!” you couldn’t catch your breath, your chest heaving with every intake of air. 

gloria got up to leave, her long skirt spinning with a flourish as she made her way to the bedroom door. “d-don’t f-fucking leave,” you wheezed as she exited the room, slamming the door behind her.

  “jules!” you shouted. “jules, please fucking help me,” you whimpered, shutting your eyes in defeat.

-------------------------------

time ticked by slowly, your arms and shoulders starting to ache as they were held in the same position. you tried to reposition them to get some relief, but none came. 

suddenly, you heard the door click open, your eyes flitting up hopefully. gloria entered with a grin on her painted lips, making her way towards you. 

while you were in the room by yourself, you had used the time wisely to come up with what would hopefully be a successful escape plan. you looked up at her with your best puppy dog eyes. “gloria, can we talk?” 

  “absolutely. what’s on your mind?” it was creepy how quickly she seemed to get over your defiance from earlier, but you pushed the thought from your mind. 

  “well, honestly, your proposal.” you began. “i know how i acted the other day was totally uncalled for, and i’ve reconsidered.”

  “well, you didn’t really have much of a choice, sweetheart, but i’m glad you feel that way.” she stroked a hand over your stomach, making you feel physically sick. “is there anything else?”

  “yeah, there is. can we start now? i wanna start these happy nine months as soon as i can.” you faked a smile, the words coming out of your mouth churning your insides. 

  “well yes, i guess that could be arranged,” she moved to get up and you panicked, your plan quickly setting out of motion. 

  “wait!” you exclaimed. “can you uncuff me? i don’t think it would really be enjoyable if i was tied down like i am now.”

she looked skeptical, but sat down next to you anyways. “give me one good reason you wouldn’t be trying to escape as soon as i untied you.”

  “well, i’ve had a change of heart.” no i haven’t. “i’ve considered it, and i think you’re right.” no you’re not. “i think this experience would be really beneficial to me,” no it wouldn’t. “especially if i wasn’t chained to the bed the whole time.” definitely not.

  “it seems that you’ve really put some thought into this, i’m very proud of you.” gloria crooned. she sat on the side of the mattress, working on uncuffing your hands from the bedposts. as soon as both your hands were free, you took a tight grip of her hair and used your body weight to launch her off of you and onto the floor. she cried out, clutching her head as you worked at the ropes around your ankles. 

  “you psycho fucking bitch!” you cursed at her. “i’m getting my girlfriend and that fucking kid and we’re getting the fuck out of here!” once your legs were finally free, you took off, running down the stairs as the damsel called out for her husband. 

you raced towards the door, prying at the handle, when a gunshot goes off right next to your head. you jumped in fear, raising your hands in defense to see george at the top of the staircase, wielding your pistol. 

  “exactly what in the hell do you think you’re doing? get your ass up here!” he shouted, waving the weapon threateningly. when you stood frozen in your tracks, he spoke again. “i’m a crack shot, kid. i missed you on purpose that time. now get on up here.” 

you grudgingly headed up the stairs, keeping your wide eyes facing straight ahead. you heard gloria sobbing in the other room, sounding as distraught as ever, and you knew you were in for it. “who the hell raised you like that? you of all people making a woman cry like that.”

  “i’d blow your brains out if i thought you had any,” george sighed. “well, i’ll tell you one thing; you’re a bit too spry for my liking.” 

suddenly, he pulled the trigger, and the bullet ripped through the meat of your thigh. you screamed in agony, clutching the wound as you cried out. “fuck! what the fuck? you just fucking shot me!”

he acted like it was nothing, simply tossing a towel at you to stop the bleeding. “quit your whinin’, ya sally. we’ll get you bandaged up.”

----------------------------

  “don’t make me put another bullet in ‘ya. just behave, goddammit!” george growled as he dragged you down the basement stairs. through your hazy vision, you were able to make out jules handcuffed to a pole not too far away from the girl. he drops you to the floor, yanking your hands behind your back and cuffing them next to jules’. 

  “y/n!” jules called out, a happy yet worried smile making its way onto her lips. her gaze landed on your leg, her eyes widening when she saw the bloody wrappings. “oh my god! you motherfucker, what did you do to her?”

  “what are you blind? i shot her.” george stated matter-of-factly. “now you two keep quiet down here. keep an eye on ‘em, sweetiepie.” he looked over to the girl before heading upstairs.

  “fuck, i’m so happy you’re alive, baby! i heard those gunshots go off and i was so scared i was gonna lose you! are you okay?” jules blurted out, trying to turn towards you. 

  “it hurts so fucking bad, but i’m okay.” you panted, breathing labored. you wriggled your arms, pulling on the cuffs frustratingly. 

  “can you pick it?” jules asks hopefully. your heavy eyes darted around the basement, searching for something in arm’s reach small enough to fit in the keyhole. 

  “i don’t have anything to pick it with.” you huffed, leaning your head back against the pole as tears of frustration brimmed your eyes. “shit!”

you peeled your eyes open to look around the room once more, eyes landing on sweetiepie as she stared back at you in fascination. you had had enough of this little girl; she was the reason you were in this whole mess. if she just would’ve fucking cooperated, the three of you could be outta here and on the route to florida. “oh, i’m so glad you’re here, i didn’t get the chance to say fuck you!”

jules nudged you with her elbow, as if to discourage you from swearing at the child. “leave her alone, she feels bad. she didn’t know what she was doing.”

  “how the hell do you know? she talked?” you asked in confusion at her statement. 

  “i don’t know, i just do.” jules shrugged. sweetiepie had resumed playing with her toys once more, the little princess dolly riding away on the heroic stallion’s back. you sighed at the seemingly hopeless situation, letting your eyes fall shut. 

this was gonna be a long night. 

***************************

okay so an itty bitty change of plans: if this ended where it was originally supposed to, it would be really long and kinda unsatisfying (to me at least), so i’m splitting this into two chapters. 

which means that instead of a 5-part series, this will be 6 parts! it just makes more sense to me that way. 

anyway, i hope you guys enjoy!! i really had fun writing this part!

tags: @emmyrosee​ @flowers-in-your-hayr​​ @willyourecognisemee​ @bill-skarsgard-owns-my-ass​

[kaleidotropepodcast]

the great inbox dump continues!

chetungwan said:

You followed me the same day I finished the podcast, how did you know

Just the Sidlesmith magic, @chetungwan! 

Anonymous said: 

so i just listened to the rent rant and i love this podcast and it is taking me over however i might’ve lost it when drew said the movie is bad, it’s one of the few musical movies i even care about.

Look I (Aja) bawled like a baby the first time I saw the movie, just like I do every time I see / hear the show. And fwiw, Drew would be the first person to tell you that no criticism of a piece of media should ever make you feel ashamed of loving it, because if it speaks to you, then that’s all that matters. <333 And Rent itself is all about that idea, too, so embrace it and go moo your heart out. :D

fancygeorgejones said: 

Sick Benjamin Britten reference I LOVE YOU

THANK YOU, @fancygeorgejones! one of us may have written our music school thesis on homoerotic themes in benjamin britten operas so we very much appreciate your appreciation.

Anonymous said:

late to the party ig but. love the podcast it’s so cute!! anyway just wanted to say that the song Valentine by Atlas gives me Big Harridrew Vibes and I can’t help but imagine drew singing it to harrison bc it’s like... exactly something his overly romantic gay ass would write

Harrison definitely has this song memorized, and definitely Drew would notice and try to memorize it and then rap it to him adorably for Valentine’s, and then they would have lots of half-hug half-cuddle sweater moments, what, it’s fine, we’re fine

Anonymous said: 

I really want to review your show but it has 69 reviews on itunes right now and I desperately do not want to be the one to break that so im at a crossroads because I also want to help it get noticed.....

We’d tell you that you’re in luck because now there are 122 ratings, so you can review away! But in fact reviews apparently don’t make much of a difference in shows getting noticed anyway, so the best thing you can do to spread the word is, well, spread the word! IE tell people that we exist! :)  <3333 (And we know so many of you guys do just that and we love you so much for it!!)

Anonymous said: 

Is your podcast on Spotify?

I’ve heard good things about it and really want to start it but can’t find it on Spotify :(

We are not on Spotify! we applied but were rejected, probably because we recorded everything in a garage on dial-up at the bottom of the ocean 😭

Anonymous said: 

Do you think Harrison would make a good zookeeper?

Harrison would be slightly less awful than Drew, but between them they would turn every single animal encounter into an Event, and no zoo needs that much drama 😂

Anonymous said: 

have you ever considered publishing a book surround drew and harrison's story? like the transcripts, or even a novel, cause i would 100% buy 7 copies of it

....well, we’re considering it now!

Anonymous said:

I'm preparing a fanfic about the Sidlesmith founders, and trying to use the story on the website as a base, but combining the dates from that and the date of the contract in the show, the contract is more than two years after Sidlesmith received their trust funds, while in the contract it seems like they're yet to get them. So, to be true to canon, which i know is not a requirement, but i want to be, would I have to work that into the story somehow or should i change the date of the contract?

Oh, no, a continuity error! We wrote the story on the website first, I believe, and the story itself is canonical, but we all know dates are fuzzy like that.  The website and the show are both consistent that the contract was signed before they got married and the fake relationship was to end once they got their trust funds a year later. That’s the important thing — the dates are *handwaves* whatever.

Remember, this is a town that’s a thriving sea port surrounded by mountains, that’s located south of the Ozarks (Arkansas) but north of the Mississippi River (Minnesota). Time and temporality are funny things, at a baseline. So feel free to have fun with that! :D

Anonymous said:

I'm writing an enemies to lovers, fake dating sidlesmith fic. is there anything more you can tell me about them? or even the construction of the college?

oh i hope there are two of you!!! 🙏

Harriet was smoking hot and desired by everyone, and Henrik had one hell of an impressive beard. Harriet was hot-headed, but also frustratingly pedantic, while Henrik was stodgy and something of a dullard until he stumbled across a subject about which he was passionate. 

They had identical taste in literature, how annoying, and always interpreted everything they read in exactly opposite ways. They each had very advanced ideas about things like sexuality, polyamory, and gender, but expressed them in their very different ways, which means they rarely realized how often they in fact agreed. They absolutely did not get rip-roaring drunk one night after fighting furiously over Melmoth the Wanderer, then raid each other’s wardrobes in order to try on one another’s clothes, and absolutely did not then have the best sex of their lives while still Harriet was still clad in Henrik’s breeches and suspenders and Henrik was still wearing her hoop skirts and corsets, after which they absolutely never ever talked about it again, because there was nothing to talk about. 

Or maybe they were both ace and aromantic, and the fact they started a magic school of romance is a giant irony. Who knows!

As for the school, during the spiritualist craze of the late 19th century, a number of students held seances to try to summon the spirits of Sidlesmith, until it’s rumored that Harriet got tired of being summoned and declared she’d curse the next person who called her back from the Beyond because she and Henrik were enjoying very cozy afterlives, thank you very much. Shortly thereafter, a student who was known to be highly interested in witchcraft was seen entering a small copse of trees in the center of campus, right at midnight. The student vanished, and the students who saw her enter the trees were never able to say precisely where she had gone. And they say that today, if you examine the original blueprints of the college, there’s a small area in the middle of campus that’s completely untraceable today — as if the Sidlesmith curse had wiped out both the student and the grove in which she walked.