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blackjackkent · 1 month ago

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OK, left off last time having completed the Cauldron and Bloodbath so time to check in around the Lighthouse and then see what the main quest has next in store for us.

First stop is a quest pickup from Harding!

Harding> "Meet me in Rivain? I've got sparring practice with the Lords and I could use the sea air. So could you." Helena> "You know, that sounds quite nice." Harding> "All right then! I'll see you soon!"

Well, that was simple. XD I'm starting to get the impression that Helena will take literally any excuse not to hang her happy ass around the Lighthouse more than necessary.

-----

Next off to check in with Davrin and then Lucanis in the wake of their missions:

Davrin is in the middle of doing some woodchopping, because the writers know their audience:

Very amused at Helena just lounging back and watching this. She may not be crushing on Davrin like she is on Bellara but she's only human (well, dwarven) and it's a good show. XD

"Davrin," she says with a casual grin. "Doing some renovations?"

"Building a trophy cabinet," he says gruffly, "for the figures I'm carving." With a grunt, he hoists one of the split logs up onto the pile nearby.

She laughs. "You know that won't save them from Assan."

Davrin rolls his eyes good-humoredly. "Had to rescue the latest piece of wood I was working on from his beak. I'm carving a Taash figure. They'll fight the other monsters and then, 'Oops! Guess that hurlock was too much to handle there, Taash! Time to call a Grey Warden!'"

Helena snickers. "Really?"

"No." Davrin snorts softly. "There's no wood in the world strong enough to carve their temper."

(A/N: This three-line interchange baffles me. I *think* he's describing a funny scenario with his carved soldiers where Assan is the 'hurlock' beating up the 'Taash' figurine, but I'm honestly not super sure, and it seems oddly fanciful for Davrin if so, and at first I didn't get it at all and thought he was randomly being a dick about Taash for no reason and entirely unprompted.)

"Maybe you could carve the rest of us," Helena suggests, cocking her head at him.

Davrin hesitates, then shrugs. "Maybe. It might be good to carve the people still around, once this is all over."

That doesn't sound particularly optimistic. Helena tries another slight grin. "So.... when you're making these carvings, if your leader just happened to look a little taller--"

"I don't make them to scale, Rook," Davrin says, squinting at her.

(A/N: Lolololol. I am fairly sure this is not a species-specific line so it is VERY funny coming from dwarf Rook. XD

Also poor Davrin is so unamused by Helena at literally all times. He did approve after this convo anyway though. :P)

Helena sighs wryly. One of these days, she'll get this man to laugh, maybe - but not today, it seems. "All right, all right," she says, shaking her head in amusement. "I'll see you around."

-----

Lucanis... is having a bad day. Again.

We walk in on Taash staring him down in the pantry.

"Demon's back," they tell Helena tersely as she walks in.

Helena sighs. "Don't think he ever leaves, actually," she says wearily.

"Then he's acting weird," Taash growls.

And indeed, Lucanis is sitting up ramrod-straight on his cot, his eyes glowing with Spite's magenta light. "Smells like... melon... and woodsmoke..." he - it - hisses.

Taash stiffens as he starts to rise. "Hey! No! No--" they snap threateningly. "Sit your ass back down."

It doesn't work though; Lucanis is up on his feet, and Helena has a brief and unpleasant vision of things exploding into violence. "I'll handle this," she tells Taash hastily. "Maybe make sure the eluvian room is blocked?"

Taash frowns, clearly unconvinced, but nods and backs out of the room, their eyes never leaving Lucanis - or Spite.

Spite waits until the door closes behind Taash, then smiles slowly with Lucanis's mouth. "Now," it hisses, "we get to talk."

Goodie. "When demons say they want to talk," Helena says carefully, "that usually means they want to bargain."

"Lucanis. Made a deal. He hasn't kept," the demon rasps.

"What deal?"

"Break our chains. Kill. Escape our prison. And live!"

Helena frowns. "Isn't that what happened?"

"NO!" Spite snarls. "I WANT OUT!"

Interesting. Demons are usually portrayed as desiring to possess people, to take control and use them. But Spite isn't in Lucanis by choice - and if it's telling the truth, it's starting to resent its trapped position and wants to be on the move.

Helena can't say she blames it, honestly. But the practicalities are against it.

"Out to where?" she asks neutrally. "Tevinter? Orlais? Nowhere's safe for a possessed man."

"No. NO!" Spite roars. "He promised! Tell him! Make him--"

Lucanis's body spasms and he staggers nearly off his feet. Then he steadies, his eyes clearing, the unworldly tint fading from them.

"Rook?" he whispers.

(A/N: I do dig the wing motif on the wall even if it's kind of on the nose. XD Did I miss learning how that was supposed to have gotten up there? My heart wants to believe they gave Spite a fingerpainting set to keep it busy.)

"You were sleepwalking," Helena says, relaxing a little to see him looking back out of his own eyes again.

He flinches, his shoulders slumping. "Spite was sleepwalking," he mutters.

Helena watches him thoughtfully. She remembers, abruptly, Harding's description of her new experience with dreams - her mind trying to tell her a story and doing it badly. Does Lucanis's mind tell him stories that wake Spite, she wonders...

"He didn't go anywhere," she says quietly. "Nothing happened."

"I didn't want you to see that," Lucanis says tightly. "Again."

It's true that this really is getting unsustainable; Lucanis can't go without sleep forever, but when he does sleep, everyone else is on edge wondering whether Spite will try to make a run for it - or worse.

But since Helena doesn't have any other answer right now, there doesn't seem much point in chewing him out about it.

"You didn't manage to leave the room!" she points out brightly instead. "And Taash didn't hit you with an axe. That's all that matters."

Lucanis is not much more interested in her attempts at humor than Davrin was. He just sighs and shakes his head, looking away from her. "I'm supposed to be a professional."

Helena lets her smile fade, tilting her head back to watch his expression. "Professional doesn't mean you have to go it alone," she says quietly.

(A/N: I mean, when you're a Crow, I feel like it kind of does, but I get what you're going for, Helena. XD)

Lucanis hesitates, his eyes flicking up to meet hers just for a moment. Then he nods with a noncommittal shrug. "Something to think about, I guess."

#bjk plays datv #helena mercar

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allhailthemightyquattro · 2 months ago

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Thoughts on The Robot Revolution

I'm finally getting around to watching the new series of Doctor Who, so here are my thoughts on The Robot Revolution (written down as I watch):

The timeline captions at the start bug me. It should be either "17 Years Ago" followed by "Now", or just a "17 Years Later" when the timeline shifts. Having both 17 Years Before and After just doesn't seem right. Like someone forgot they'd added the first title.

The Doctor appears to be looking for Belinda, which seems to be setting up a Moffat-style "special companion " story arc such as we got with Clara. Sigh.

Did the Doctor just accidentally turn off the hospital life support machines along with rest of the power? Oops, indeed.

The poor cat 😢

The robots and spaceship look like toys. Disney marketing attempt or just silly Doctor Who charm, who can say?

I'm still not fond of the Mrs Flood fourth wall breaks. Which is a shame because other than that she's a fun and intriguing character.

Okay, we're finally at the titles. Only took 7 minutes.

I like the idea of kidnapping Belinda because the planet and star is named after her. It's reminiscent of the good half of the Girl in the Fireplace plot.

The polishing bot is cute.

As a writer, I am loving that the villain is an "AI Generator".

The effects for the disintegrating guns look very high budget but also very terrible.

That was way too much melodrama for a character who had two minutes screen time and no personality.

I am liking Belinda so far.

Love Belinda's reaction to the Doctor's heart.

Sigh. Yes it's a companion is extra important story arc.

"Left Earth May 24". Hmm. The same day the finale is supposed to air, I believe...

Manny is hot but he's also a bit of a dick.

The "every ninth word" fault is very pick and choose, huh?

Did not see the Alan twist coming, though it was nicely foreshadowed with the "I haven't seen him in 16 years". Guess this means AI isn't the villain. Pity.

I do like the anti-incel message, but it is a bit over explained. The line about coercive control was not needed. We can see the dude was controlling.

Also, I think I would have preferred the incel thing to get its own episode so that the issue could be explored properly. It just kind of felt chucked into this one, making it performative rather than thought provoking.

I knew I loved the polishing bot for a reason. Sweeping up Alan. 😆Can it come onboard the TARDIS as a pet?

Belinda's first words upon entering the TARDIS are great.

Yes, Belinda you tell him! Unfortunately, Clara gave him the same telling off in The Rings of Akhaten, and it was useless, so my hopes that the Doctor will listen are not high. Please don't let this be a repeat of Series 7 Part 2.

Love the last shot of all the Earth objects in space. That shot alone has got me intrigued for the series story arc.

Overall, not a bad episode. Certainly better than last season's opener. I think it's gonna go squarely in the "it's alright" category.

#the robot revolution #doctor who #dw spoilers #doctor who spoilers #doctor who series 15

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azulasmommyissues · 5 months ago

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About your Patti post, literally everyone knows the difference between the actor and the characters they play unless they’re like, 12 years old. and if they are that young you should probably leave kids alone anyway

I'm not sure why this was sent into thiS blog- 😭(did I leave my ask-box closed on the other one? oops, sorry for the inconvenience- 🙁) But no, I'm not referring to any children, I'm not judging any children, and I am indeed not targeting anyone or attempting to dull out their fun. People can write what they like. And I wish you were right and I wish I was just a raging bitch and that indeed it was only kids who didn't make the separation, but I could name grown-up content creators that I follow and enjoy and respect that I've seen even openly admitting that they struggle to interpret Lilia as a separate entity from Patti and to not project Patti's traits onto her.

Should I have phrased it more responsibly as to not discourage any young writers who might have felt called out? Definitely, but obviously I wouldn't make a post if I didn't notice a pattern. Is it so hard to believe that media comprehension and literacy is a problem judging by the current state of the world, and is it so bad to have mature and nuanced conversations about characters in fandom spaces?

Once I was 12, a non-native English speaker trying to have my fandom fun and I'm eternally grateful for the encouragement I got back then, to stand here at 18 and have this conversation.

And so I'm extremely sorry to whoever felt targeted and I'm willing to take all the shit but different statements can co-exist and that post was meant to spark a conversation about subtleties in the script and the performance. Nothing else.

#patti lupone

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landofzero-archive · 8 months ago

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Ibara Saegusa - 1st Idol Story

Writer: Akira

Season: Spring

Ibara: Oya? Oyaoyaoya~?

Good evening, Producer-dono! How unexpected it is to see you at a place like this! Salute~☆

..... Ooh? Why are you laughing? Have I said something amusing?

It’s delightful, because I always want to put a smile on the faces of people around me! aHaHaHa☆

I see I see? You say that lately the twins— those two from 2wink— have been mimicking me and saluting?

That’s why when you saw me, you thought ‘The actual person appeared!’ and it felt like it tickled your funny bone(1)?

Indeed! I understand! So it was just a strange callback joke.

It wouldn’t do for me to not extend my thanks to the two from 2wink by saying ‘Thank you for the introduction to the joke’!

Fufu. Those two are very convenient, they’re able to do anything to an astonishing degree, considering their past reputation.

Ah, it was a good decision to poach them, I had made a good purchase〜♪ (2)

I don’t mean to say this as a criticism. But something like the DreamFes system might have a harmful effect.

Because the Yumenosaki Academy judges idols based on a biased evaluation system——

There are a lot of sleeping bargains, like those two from 2wink.

Are there any more idols full of promise that seem to be slow in growing in Yumenosaki Academy?

If you happen to know of any, feel free to drop me a line any time!

Us at Cosmic Productions will show you that we will be hatching those slow-in-growing idol eggs magnificently! Salute~☆

If I were to get the provisions of information(3), I would thank you! Naturally! Because this world works through give-and-take〜♪ (4)

Yes! Dear me, there are also unsociable and difficult to interfere with idols in Cospro’s conglomerate(5)

Would it be convenient to arrange for you to produce for them?

(Well if that was possible, I’d be able to take control of CosPro and move it around as much as I want……

This is the result of me doing things by myself here and there.

A special producer, who goes between all the agencies…….

I'm not so foolish as to let a person from such a privileged class with strong influences run loose.

I will be chaining myself to you until you’re unable to think of me as nothing other than an eyesore.

I do work that is quite close to producing too, you see—— it can even be said that we’re business rivals.

Fufu. That’s why, inversely, I intend to be on friendly terms with you. Letting my poison deeply entangle, flow though, and dominate you……

I’ve always done it in this way, to bring down my prey and use them as my own provisions.

I will do the same to you. I will enjoy you deliciously……. Producer-dono♪)

Ibara: ....... Oops, how rude of me! I shouldn’t be staring at a woman so intently. Ahh, as usual, you’re so beautiful that my eyes were transfixed!

That is the lamentable habit(6) of men!

As I am also a humble idol, I would like to know the secret to that beauty!

As I thought, do you pay attention to your usual diet and such, and undergo beautification treatments?

I see, I see, it has nothing to do with beautification, but you take care to exercise like this every day? Being a producer needs stamina after all?

Wonderful! As expected, people who are highly praised do have a different way of thinking! How splendid!

Ju~st kidding, I’m doing the same thing and letting sweat flow a little after work!

Fufuu, while acting like I was praising you, I ended up singing my own praises! How embarrassing!

Yes! I’m the Vice President of Cospro, therefore during the day, I’m exceedingly busy with various things with managing the company!

Naturally, I have to give my all for idol activities as well!

And thus, for health, as well as for stamina like what you’ve just said…….

That’s why, I decided to exercsie in this training room after the sun has gone down.

Oh myy, so we’re the same! I’ve always thought that we were of the same mind!

I would be delighted if we could forevermore be intimately acquainted, salute~☆

Yes. Fufuu, since we’re working in the same workplace……. Let us get along well♪

Of course, if you’re not opposed to it!

Yes! Of course I will respect you as a producer while I’m working as an idol.

It’d be a blessing to be able to spend time together as friends during off hours like this!

You don’t mind? Ooh I’m so happy, perhaps it’s due to my weirdly overly friendly personality, but I’m not able to make close friends!

It’s so lonely〜 I want to meet up and have a friendly chat like this once in a while!

Also, I know quite a bit about delicious restaurants in this neighbourhood, so we should go on a food tour as a group one of these days!

..... Eh? If an idol and a producer were too close, won’t that cause a scandal?

Who told you something like that?

If it’s just having a meal with a producer, I think every idol does that……

Yes, CosPro has always at least set aside funds for things like entertainment expenses.

However! Please do not be hesitant to call me if you’re in trouble concerning food costs!

..... Oops. Even though the training room can be used till late at night, if we keep chatting too much, it’ll be time for it to close soon.

Let’s exercise like we originally planned to♪

If we don’t, it’ll be a waste of the usage fees! Eh, I’m surprisingly miserly, you say?

That’s a harsh criticism, but to not have any money is the same as not having a neck〜♪

Naturally, I’ll buy plots of land, or gems or anything else if it’s to please you♪ Ju~st kidding♪

(...... Fufun. Well, shall we leave it at that for today?

She almost refused to have a meal together… Somehow it seems like she’s a very guarded person.

She’ll be even more on guard with me if I were to push too strongly…….

From the beginning, Yumenosaki Academy is the opposition, and she would not have a good impression of me as I am someone with influence in CosPro.

Slowly and carefully, without hurrying or panicking, I will conquer you, Producer-dono♪)

TL NOTES

1.変なツボ : lit. a weird (acupunture) point. The original is ‘it entered your weird point’, which is basically just the same as ‘it tickled your funny bone’. It’s said that there is an acupuncture point that makes people laugh…

2. 良い買い物をしましたね ; exactly as it says. Ibara referred to them as a good shopping purchase.

3. 情報提供 (Jouhouteikyou): provision of information in terms of economics.

4. Give-and-take written in katakana like this; ギブ・アンド・テイク

5. コズプロ系列 CosPro Keiretsu: A keiretsu is an interdependent group of companies, each with its own banking partner, manufacturers, distributors, and supply chain partners. In English, this is usually translated as a conglomerate.

6. The kanji given is 性 which has quite a few readings. The given reading is ‘saga’ which means tradition, habit or nature.

#ensemble stars #enstars #enstars translation #ibara saegusa #era: !!#type: idol story

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leaderoffestivals · 1 year ago

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Mikejima Madara Feature Scout 2 Ch 2: Fates and Feast

Madara: Let’s enjoy the festival together, just like we did that day. What do you say, Anzu-san?

Scenario Writer: Yuumasu Season: Winter Characters: Mikejima Madara. Otogari Adonis, Oogami Koga, Harukawa Sora, Akehoshi Subaru, Sakasaki Natsume, Anzu

< After a short while. Carrying out duties as the “One-Day PR General”... >

Madara: [TO ALL THE LADIES AND GENTLEMEN HERE TODAYYY, A MOST DELIGHTFUL MORNING TO YOUUUUU ☆ I AM MIKEJIMA MADARA FROM MaM!

Have you received the special Mikejima Madara’ stamp rally cards yet? They’re being handed out at the entrance!

To collect all the stamps, you’ll need to explore every nook and corner of the venue. By the time the card is filled with stamps, you’ll have covered the entirrre venue!

IF YOU’RE NOT SURE ON WHERE TO GO OR WHAT TO DO, DO FEEL FREE TO MAKE USE OF IT ☆

One can only truly appreciate the famous sights of the world by being there in person, but you can experience the culinary cultures of the world right here at this venue!

In other words, you can learn more about the world through food!

The world is an incredibly vast place, full of discoveries yet to be made! I HOPE YOU WILL ENJOY LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE WORLD WHILE INDULGING IN DELICIOUS DELIGHTS ☆]

Madara: (Turn off the mike now, and… …

This place has been bustling since the opening hour―it looks like the efforts we put into promoting the event are paying off.

This is splendid. Yes, this is how festivals should be, after all ♪

I’m supposed to meet with Anzu-san at the Japanese food fair around noon.

Until then, I’ll continue to soak in the sights and the sounds of the venue, and continue livening up the atmosphere here in my role as the “One-Day PR General”―

… … Oh? I see some familiar faces over thereee―) ADONIS-SAN, KOGA-SAN! YOOHOOOOOOO ☆

Koga: Pipe down~. Why are you yellin’ at us so loudly for?

Adonis: Good morning, Mikejima-senpai―

Oops―No. It would be better to address you as the PR General here, I suppose?

Madara: Nope! Feel free to address me as you usually do! Thank you both for coming! I appreciate it so much!

Koga: Well, you’ve been yappin’ non-stop about the event at Seisoukan and hypin’ it up like crazy, haven’t you?

It piqued my curiosity enough to check it out, and I found out there’re chefs from this guy’s home country attending too.

Adonis: That’s why Oogami and I are here, to try some authentic cuisine from my homeland―

―and it’s all thanks to your enthusiastic promotion of the event. Thank you, Mikejima-senpai.

Madara: You’re very welcome! I hope you’ll enjoy the taste of your homeland too ☆

Sora: HaHa~ ♪ Good morning, Giant-san! ♪

Madara: OH! It’s Sora-san and Subaru-san.

Subaru: Yes! Since it’s an invitation from our roommate, Mamu-senpai, how could we not show up, right?

It would’ve been perfect if Hibiki-senpai could’ve come along too, but he seems to have something going on. However, in his place―

Subaru: TADA~AH! Natsume has joined our party~ ☆

Natsume: SeriousLY? I’m not here to replace Wataru-nii-san at aLL. I’m only here because I didn’t want to let Baru-kun monopolise Sora for the entire dAY.

Subaru: Haha! That's what you say, but deep down, you totally wanted to hang out with me, didn’t you? Awww, youuu~ ♪

Natsume: UgH. Stop tickling mE, and stop twisting things to fit your narratiVE.

Natsume: Oh yES. Wataru-nii-san will be attending tomorrOW, together with the other members of “fine”. Isn’t that grEAT, Mikejima-senpai?

Madara: Yes, indeed. I’m very grateful to everyone who showed interest!

Sora: Yes! Sora is so thankful to learn about such a fun event!

HiHi~ ♪ What should Sora eat first, Sora is wondering~?

Natsume: UfufU. You may order anything you liKE. I’ll cover the bill for yOU, okAY?

Sora: YAAAY~ ♪ Thank you so much, Shisho~!

Subaru: YAAAY~ ♪ Thanks so much, Natsume!

Natsume: Hold oN. I wasn’t talking to yOU, Baru-kun.

Madara: Haha, the young ones sure are energetic, aren’t theyyy―

Oh myyy? There’s another familiar face over there! HELLOOOOOO ☆

< A few hours later. At the Japanese food fair. >

Madara: (Where’s Anzu-san now… … Hmmm?)

OIIII~I, ANZU-SAN!

Whoops, did I startle you? My apologies for speaking up from behind you so suddenly!

What are you doing, lurking behind this food stall? … … Hmmm? “I’m not lurking at all”―you say?

Hmm, hmm. You’re helping out at the food stalls that are short-staffed because of the sudden increase in visitors―

―and that’s why you’re peeling potatoes now?

I don’t think there’s any obligation for you to help them, Anzu-san. But then again, you’re the type of person who can’t ever turn a blind eye to someone in need, huh… …

Alright, count me in! I’ll pitch in and lend a hand too ☆

Why are you holding me back nowww? … … You’re being considerate because you think I’ve been working hard as the PR General earlier?

Madara: HAHAHA! There’s no need to worry about me at aaall! My stamina is as boundless as the sea, you knowww!

I made the decision to take charge of this event after all, so I want to see it through to the very end!

… … You’re saying the taiyaki (1) stall owner over there seems like he’s having a hard time managing the store alone?

Roger wilco! (2) Leave it to me! I’ve got plenty of experience with aaall kinds of festival stalls!

HOLD ON, MR TAIYAKI MAN! MAMA IS COMING TO HELP YOUUUU ☆

< A while later… …>

Madara: Thank you for waiting, Anzu-san! The taiyaki stand has been saved!

More specifically, we were able to increase the turnover after the stall owner and I divided the work among ourselves. We managed to clear the long line that had formed before I arrived in just thirty minutes―

And now that stall owner’s acquaintance has rushed over to help, I’m relieved of my duties now! All’s well that ends well! ☆

And as a token of appreciation for my assistance, the stall owner has given me some taiyaki too.

Let’s eat them together, while they’re still warm. Here we gooo~ ♪

Madara: Sweet treats savoured after performing good deeds always taste especially delicious, don't they? They're on a whole other level.

… … Anzu-san. Thank you for appointing me to be the event’s PR General.

That was Tsumugi-san’s idea―you say? Hahaha, well, that much is true but―

You were the one who set things in motion, right? If you hadn’t decided to liven up the event, Anzu-san, I wouldn’t even be here.

Madara: … … That’s right. It’s just like when you were peeling potatoes behind the food stalls. There wasn’t any obligation for you to help out at all.

Even if ES were to be labelled as “a saboteur of other companies’ projects”, that wouldn’t tarnish your reputation as a Producer in the slightest.

Madara: Er, I know it’s kind of a downer for me to be asking this, but―why did you decide to take action here?

“Because I want to see people smile”―you say? And―“Because I know how frustrating it is to see the projects one has worked so hard on fail.”

Madara: Yes. It’s incredibly painful when one’s efforts don’t pay off, isn’t it?

You’re sooo kind, Anzu-san. Mama is sooo glad you grew up to be such a good child ♪

You’re not my Mama―you say? HAHAHA! It’s sooo cute the way you always react to what I say so smartly! ☆

Because you wanted to see people smile, huh… … You’re right. A smile is like the sunshine that brightens up the world.

I, too, am happy when I see you smile, Anzu-san.

Well, now that we’re done eating, let’s get moving.

When don’t we take a stroll together before heading back to ES? I’d like to buy some souvenirs for Tsumugi-san.

It’d be such a shame to head back so soon, wouldn’t it?

… … This reminds you of what we did last summer, huh? Now that you’ve mentioned it, we went to the “Rensei Festival” together, didn’t we?

We wore matching masks and joined in the Bon Odori dance. It’s such a pity that we can’t dance today… …

Let’s enjoy the festival together, just like we did that day. What do you say, Anzu-san?

The End

Chapter 1

Translator’s notes: 1) Taiyaki (the street food Madara is holding in his animation) is a fish-shaped waffle filled with red bean paste or other fillings.

2) Roger Wilco: army slang for “I hear you and will comply”.

3) I split Madara's animated emotion into two because it's a whopping 36 seconds long.

4) It's not proofed, so if there's any feedback, please DM me.

#ensemble stars #enstars tl #mikejima madara #sakasaki natsume #akehoshi subaru #harukawa sora #otogari adonis #oogami koga #feature scout 2 #fates and feast #MaM #Thank you so much for a happy story Yuumasu-san!

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silvercap · 3 days ago

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2, 7, 31 and 32 for the writer's game! <3

Sure!

2. Why do you write fanfiction?

I am crazy and insane 👍 hope this helps!

Nahh, just kidding. There are a few reasons! Number one is indeed the fact that I tend to obsess over my little characters, and fanfiction is a very nice way to put them in Situations and play with them like dolls. I also love writing as an art, and I've always wanted vaguely to be an author of some kind since I was very very little :) Creative Writing Is My Passion 🐸 and etc.

Considering that being a writer is not necessarily a lucrative career in our current economic world, and that I have to get a (sigh...) degree and whatnot, fic is a good, shorter, more casual version of writing. I've always liked short stories and my own fiction writing, and that works perfectly for little additions to pre-existing canons.

One of the bigger reasons is also the lovely community that can be found here and in the whump circle <3 and I just really love that there are other people out there who love to whump their faves!! It's nice to be a part of, and it's something I'd always been wary about exploring in more irl settings because idk taboo 😭 But online and in fics, there's a lot of it!!

7. What element of writing do you struggle with the most?

I answered this in a different ask and said 'planning,' but I also have plenty of trouble with procrastination, too 😵‍💫

The hardest part is often 'just starting' and writing something shitty in a first draft, or getting myself to play with words when I don't feel like going to the effort of writing. I love it, don't get me wrong! It's just hard to start, sometimes, and it's frustrating!

31. Do you have any OCs? Tell us about them!

Sure!! They are all Resident Evil OCs I fear, but mostly just soldier-y team members to round out the BSAA lmao because just having Chris and Piers as a team doesn't always make sense.

One is a medic and the most beautiful, gorgeous, lovely woman to ever exist, who I think I just named Sylvia!! She's got a sexy Irish accent and knows her way around medical equipment real well (She's their main medic for a reason!) which, oop! Also happens to be hot. She's Black; dark-skinned, and usually has her hair in long braids because uhhh military regulations don't exist to me <3 Last I wrote her, they were silver colored, but maybe she'll change the color every so often, idk. She's gorgeous and I've meant to draw her for a while but lol I'm lazyyy

Jie Sung also happens to be a member of the BSAA, and is also a sexy, competent woman. Huh, maybe I do have a type... Anyway, she's second-generation Chinese-Canadian and grew up on the West Coast, and she really loves the old sci-fi nerd stuff like Star Wars and Star Trek and Dune and probably Lord of the Rings and Marvel comics, too. She can wear the HELL out of a pair of combat cargo pants (🥵) and has very thick, dark hair, and is also pretty quick on her feet. More like Leon than Chris in terms of fighting style! She's pretty cheerful in general, even considering her line of work, and she loves a good line of banter lmao which you know drives Chris crazy when Leon comes around.

Let's see... There's also Natalie, who was in the fic where Leon gets his throat slit!! She's Inuit and has kakiinit tattoos in the traditional style, and is kind of like a. Morgue guy??? Idk what her actual job is, but that's where she was working at the BSAA haha.

I've also got some villains for sure 🤔 Marcus Daltan, for one, who poisoned Leon in the Bond Mission fic. Picture a charming, dark-haired white boy who grew up with money and runs a criminal empire, and you'll get a pretty good idea of what he looks like. Jawline for days, and his hair is charmingly mussed in the floppy way that looks hot when he's sweaty or bloody etc. He looks a bit like Patrick, actually; tall, dark, and handsome. He's a dickhead and ignores women, and on an entirely unrelated note he's... very not homoerotic!! Not at all. No Bond villain is homoerotic, what are you talking abouuuut- (You know the scene in Casino Royale where Mads Mikkelsen tortures a NAKED Daniel Craig? That, but with Daltan and Leon :3 just guys being dudes. Nemeses being enemies!)

There is also an unnamed villain who owns a fancy mansion in the middle of nowhere that just so happens to be obsessed with antiquity in a weird way and has a toootally legal Gladiator arena beneath his house :3 What better to way to damnatio ad bestias than with than actual bioweapon beasts, amiright?? He's not very developed yet, tho, sorry. Haha

32. Summarize a random fic of yours in ten words or less.

Leon gets a friendly welcome during his Los Illuminados initiation!!

Thanks for the ask haha. Sorry it got so long 😭

#asks #ask game #heehehe

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psychicthepsychic-daily · 1 year ago

Text

confirmation bias, and other fallacies

(Friday Night Funkin')

Words: 759

Summary:

Girlfriend's sick in bed after some (heavily implied) poor decisions she and Boyfriend made on a date. Psychic is left to tend to her and try to understand where she's coming from, when she says this is the boy in whose hands she'd put her life.

i did not mean for this to get so long oops- also i am indeed in the process of finishing the Aldryx birthday fic! i've just been super busy and hit with a bad case of writer's block! apologies for the delay and i'll be sure to get it out as soon as i can!

Psyfic taglist: @y010isaghost, @s0methingmoonlit, @flurriethefox, @hoodiehydra

Let me know if you'd like to be added to/removed from the taglist!

----------

"Sit up straight," Psychic cautions as he sets a tray of bread and tomato soup on the blanket between them, taking a seat on the edge of Girlfriend's bed and letting her disentangle herself from the sheets.

She sneezes. Sneezes again. "Thanks, Psyche," she smiles before sneezing a third time, and that somehow makes the last few hours looking after her worth it. Girlfriend reaches for the spoon and takes a slurp of the soup. "This is nice."

"That's good to hear," he says, tracing the stitching in her maroon comforter. "Next time, don't run the entire perimeter of Newgrounds immediately after swimming in a frozen lake." He can't stop a little bit of snark from entering his tone, even with her.

"It was an accident," Girlfriend mutters defensively. "I already told you that. And I made it out fine. Boyfriend was there to help me."

Boyfriend. Always Boyfriend was there and Boyfriend saved me and Boyfriend was so brave for my sake. Has she forgotten the eighteen years her parents, Psychic spent protecting her, teaching her to protect herself? Scorned, worthless, gone? She's lucky her parents aren't home to hear her.

"It still shouldn't have happened to begin with," Psychic narrows his eyes at her but keeps his tone calm. "And he may have been there this time, but what if someday something does happen and he's not? What if there's nothing he can do? You have to be more careful, Girlfriend. You have to be able to look out for yourself."

She scoffs, blowing a lock of hair out of her eyes and sniffing a little. Psychic gives her the tissue box. "I can," she grumbles, blowing her nose and dropping a wad of Kleenex into the bin by her bed. "I'm not helpless just because he's around to help me, Psychic. I'm just safer because of him. I can rely on him, that doesn't make me weak. I thought you would understand that..." She takes another, smaller sip of soup and stuffs a slice of bread in her mouth, avoiding his gaze. A small, hurt frown creases her face.

Guilt creeps up on Psychic again, frustratingly enough, where it never used to. It's not his place to lecture her.

I wasn't lecturing her, I was only expressing my concerns over her safety and his recklessness—

It's not his place.

That should be enough for him. Boyfriend was there and he wasn't, big deal. Girlfriend is safe, albeit with a fever and cold that she'll recover from overnight. She's a good kid. A strong kid.

She has someone to look out for her now, without the inherent judgement her family has, including him. Psychic's aware of that. Having been around since before her birth, there's no way his devotion hasn't distorted his own view of her. How to protect her. And everyone deserves someone to trust, outside of that echo chamber of assumptions and expectations.

Just because it's Boyfriend doesn't make that any less true. She's right, Psychic of all people should understand.

"I'm sorry." Girlfriend's always preferred for him to say it outright, not hide his feelings behind formalities and language her father would use. "I shouldn't doubt you. I do understand, Girlfriend. But please... remember to stay safe. Both of you. I'm glad things are getting better for you, but it's up to you to keep it that way."

She gives him a tentative grin. "It's okay, Psyche. Does that—" She sneezes. "Does that mean you called Boyfriend?"

Psychic rolls his eyes. "Of course I did." Boyfriend was out of his apartment and dashing across the city before Psychic had a chance to hang up. Possibly the only respectable thing that shrimp's ever done. "He's on his way. Finish your food, Girlfriend. I'll make you some tea."

When she's done, Psychic reaches out with his telekinesis and lifts her tray. "Get some rest," he encourages softly, brushing her bangs out of her eyes. Her forehead is still warm. Psychic lets his magic soothe some of her discomfort. "Your boyfriend will be here soon. I'll come back with your tea in a minute."

He switches off the ceiling light as he leaves but her bedside lamp continues to glow as she snuggles deeper within the covers. She's already asleep by the time he comes back.

Psychic doesn't wake her; the girl needs her rest. He leaves her tea on the nightstand to warm again later, and remains outside her room, resolute to keep her safe and comforted, no matter who he shares that role with now.

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cloudcountry · 2 years ago

Note

Okay so apparently Arthur Conan Doyle is a character in Ikevamp?? (I’m gonna scream- /j)

JHSDF HAVE ONE MORE HISTORICAL FACT ABOUT THE GUY BEFORE I GO TO BED-

Apparently, he got pranked so hard that he claimed fairies were real. Yes. In 1917, there were the Cottingley Fairy photographs, where cousins Elsie (age 16) and Frances (age 9) made photos of themselves surrounded by fairies. Doyle believed these photos, and even spent a million dollars promoting them and wrote a book, The Coming of the Fairies (1921), on their authenticity. Doyle was a spiritualist, and he really believed that the photos were evidence of psychic phenomena.

Yeah, uh, later in the 1980s (fifty years after Doyle passed away), the cousins admitted in an interview that the photos were faked, using cardboard cutouts of fairies copied from a popular children's book of the time.

Here’s a quote from an article about the matter I thought was interesting:

‘“…Despite his [Doyle’s] insistence that spirits can pass into our world and effect change or send messages, he appears to have slept through Elsie and Frances admitting, more than half a century later, that the photos were indeed fake.

“It was just Elsie and I having a bit of fun,” Frances told the BBC in a 1985 interview. “But just imagine: you’re 16, and messing around with your cousin, and the world’s most famous writer of the world’s most famous incredibly clever guy comes along and publishes your photos for the whole world to see and writes a long tract about how your fun camera experiment is proof positive that fairies exist and the whole world rests on these photos … well, what are you going to do?”

“Two village kids and a brilliant man like Conan Doyle—well, we could only keep quiet,’” explained Elsie. “I can’t understand to this day why they were taken in,” said Frances. “People often say to me, “Don’t you feel ashamed that you have made all these poor people look like fools? They believed in you.’ But I do not, because they wanted to believe.”

Of course, perhaps it wouldn’t have made any difference if Conan Doyle had found out the photos were a fake. After all, he’d probably say, just because those ones were frauds, doesn’t mean fairies don’t exist. The girls probably had the wrong shaped hands to take real photos of fairies. But you would have to think he’d be disappointed. When he looked at those photos, he didn’t just see two girls sitting next to what are clearly paper cut-outs of fairies—he saw the dawning of a new age.’

(Here’s the link to it if you’re interested in reading it, kfjgnd https://lithub.com/the-time-arthur-conan-doyle-got-pranked-so-hard-he-claimed-fairies-exist/ )

Jackdaw Anon 🐦

TAHTS SO CRAZY.,.,,.,.,.,. I FEEL KINDA BAD FOR HIM OMG but also i can totally relate bc i am gullible as hell oops

#jackdaw anon <3

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emcscared-whumps · 2 years ago

Text

WiJ 2023 - 01: Introduce Yourself

WiJ 2023 Navigation Post

(I'll put my favourite tropes under the cut because this post is getting a bit long, oops lol)

Re-Introduction

I've been in the Tumblr whump community for a couple of years now, but hello and welcome to everyone both old and new to my blog! I'm emc, and I'm an Australian writer and artist specialising in the bloodthirsty subject matter we all love here on whumpblr! I mostly reblog at this stage, but I love to participate in community events, and have plenty in the works :)

I create original whump works. I'm only in one fandom, Danny Phantom, so I will occasionally reblog stuff from there.

Project Updates!

I'm completely, totally obsessed by one singular whumpee... so everything I work on centers around him... lol

Anyways, so, it turns out that SP multiplied...

Shifting Phases - This is gonna be a loooooong fic lol, but! I'm making good progress, and I've managed to stay inspired and motivated for +6 years, so you can count on it getting finished, no matter how long it takes :)

10 of 59 chapters are drafted, one of which is pending review,

8 of the remaining 50 chapters are in progress,

The word-count as of writing this post is 23.5k.

I'm sure a few of you have followed for this fic/pieces of the boi, and I think about that constantly especially since it's still a major wip lol ^-^' Not worry, I will not rush uwu

I'll link the masterpost of it though because I keep it updated with my progress, and also any good snippets I write :)

Full Moon Waning - Because I'm horrible and have so many thoughts all the time, I've actually started planning this; the sequel to Shifting Phases! I think I have some cool whump ideas, and it provides another chance to explore the worldbuilding and character backstories, so I think it has a lot to offer and will be fun to write :)

Plotting; jotting down vague ideas and arranging them in a semi-coherent order.

Eclipse Descending (AU) - Oh this one is incredibly fun and fucked up, and somehow manages to be SO much darker in which Pete falls down a terrible path and becomes a hunter. It goes about as well as you'd expect lol. I explained the premise to a friend and she wondered, since it was so compelling, why it wasn't canon, and man, that's a fun thing to hear. It also means it's gonna be an absolute behemoth...

Plotting and detailing scenes simultaneously.

Caesar Salad (AU) - Remember how I said I wanted to stab my whumpee during the Ides of March? Guess which concept got WAY out of hand XD It will be a much shorter fic, but it's still a major project. It's an alternate secret reveal, so, it's an AU.

Detailing the scenes while trying desperately to come up with a resolution ^-^'

Anything Else? - Yep! I have a few other little scene/whump ideas that I'll eventually write out, but for now, I just keep them stored in a little au/idea doc. I'm still also working slowly on my BTHB card, and also the gift and several treats for the exchange I mentioned earlier, but I shan't be spoiling those :)

Favourite Tropes

Those of you who've been around me/know me will find that I am indeed very consistent XD Some of my favourite tropes include:

Bad caretaker/s

Collapse

Compromised mobility

Dehumanisation and animalisation

Domestic abuse

Emotional whump

Environmental whump

Hyper/hypothermia

Long-term injuries and scars

Near-death of the whumpee

Nightmares/Night terrors

Nonhuman whumpees (usually vampires, demons... and especially mer)

Panic attacks

PTSD

Restraints, especially creative ones

Secret angst-- whumpee having to keep their species/identity secret for their personal safety, and because they fear they'll be rejected by the ones they love most

Severe sickness

Species-specific whump

Starvation

Transformation whump

... and so many more...! Also, caretakers and whumpers are not necessary for me to enjoy the whump ^-^

#wij23day1 #whumpmasinjuly2023 #whumpmas in july #wij #whumpblr #whump community #whump intro #whump reintro #whump writer #whump artist #omfg how do i count #i can't fucking count i either made an error on chapter count here or on the masterpost shit shit shit lmao #i can count it's just whether i count them the same way lol

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sneezewizard · 2 years ago

Text

20 Questions Game

i was delighted to be tagged in this game by @lovesastateofmind1 who is one of my most favoritest supercorp writers

1. How many works do you have on AO3? 6

2. What’s your total AO3 words count?

104,568

3. What fandoms do you write for?

Supercorp

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

How to Find Your Way to the Center of a Spider’s Web Advanced Chemistry (A secret santa exchange I did) The Agreement (Unfinished oops) The Book of the Witch (My currently ongoing fic. I am currently working on the next chapter for this I promise.) Field Notes

5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not? I try to! But sometimes I get around to it too late.

6. What’s the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

How to Find Your Way to the Center of a Spider’s Web. No one in the pairing dies (though a lot of people do die), but the ending isn't happy. It was my first fic and I was really going through it at the time, so I'm not sure I'd write something so hopeless now.

7. What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

Advanced Chemistry. They end up happily together and Kara doesn't fail her chemistry class. An optimal outcome indeed.

8. Do you get hate on fics?

I wouldn't say hate. I had some readers who were frustrated that my longfic ended sadly, and criticized the ending. I see where they're coming from. I'd thought I'd tagged appropriately etc, but I was still learning tagging etiquette on Ao3 so I may just not have signaled directly enough that it would not be a happy ending.

9. Do you write smut? If so what kind?

Not until very recently, but I'm practicing it as a skill and plan to include an NSFW scene in The Book of the Witch (so expect a rating bump up there.) It's hard for me as an ace person who hasn't dated much, so getting the emotions right is a bit of a challenge.

10. Do you write crossovers? What’s the craziest one you’ve written?

No, unless you count the Spongebob Squarepants x The L Word crossover I wrote in a discord server to bother my friends and procrastinate on homework.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Nope

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

Nope

13. Have you ever cowritten a fic before?

No but I would love to cowrite a supercorp fic please anyone who is reading hmu that would be such an honor and a delight.

14. What’s your all-time favourite ship?

Haha SUPERCORP i am a total dweeb for supercorp i just think they're neat

15. What’s a WIP you want to finish, but doubt you ever will?

The Agreement. I think I need to take it down and back to the drawing board -- plan it out a little bit better before giving it the light of day. I wrote myself into a little bit of a trap with it, and it's been languishing for a few years, even though I love it very much.

16. What are your writing strengths? Saying a lot with a little.

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

Relatedly to the strengths, sometimes saying too little -- things can feel a little stilted or impersonal, especially during moments of emotional climax.

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language for a fic?

Only if I was very comfortable in the language, and the dialogue was very brief. I think I'd tend toward writing short lines that can be intuited out with context clues, or easily translated for the readers.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

Overwatch.

20. Favourite fic you’ve ever written?

I go back and forward on this. I think The Agreement is the best written, but I feel anxiety about it because I just can't seem to keep it going. Once I finish The Book of the Witch I may rate it among my favorite fics I've written, but it needs to be finished first! Right now it's just in a gloomy, icy limbo.

#ask sneeze

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beccibarnes · 19 days ago

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Weekly Review - Week 23

2 June - 8 June 2025

📝Words Edited: 964

📚Fanfics read: 10 (7 of it were my own, oops)

✍️Story Worked On: The Midnights We Share

📅In case you missed it:

Wednesday: 🔗Fic Writer Ask Game

Friday: 🔗Title Reveal of the upcoming fic

💭 Weekly Thoughts:

We're getting there, folks. We're now fully into pre-release of The Midnights We Share, and I am making good progress on it. Yay!

This week, I had the strange urge to re-read about 80% of my own fanfic catalogue. It made me realise that yes, I do indeed write these things primarily for me. Loved it.

In the wake of it, I finally reached out to a long-lost friend from earlier fandom days. We were rather close a few years ago, and I've been putting it off because there were some things unsaid that I dreaded unpacking. But we cleared it all, had a respectful and lovely chat, and I highly recommend it.

Oh, and also - weekly review overhaul and a new neat title pic.

#weekly review #writeblr

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auniverseforgotten · 29 days ago

Note

Ooo. 14 and 26

OOPS IT'S BEEN LIKE TWO WEEKS LMAO SORRY THANK U FOR THE ASK this one is from the ask game here.

14. Are there any tropes you would only read if written by a trusted friend or writer?

That one is a hard one. In general anything I tend to be Stupid lol and I forget to read tags so I just. Open things and if I don't vibe I back out. So most tags don't Stop me either because I forgot to read it, it was intriguing, or the summary made it sound risky enough to try it.

Now of course there's stuff I don't like or that squicks me so obviously those don't count lmaoooo so overall not really but that's more because I am firmly screw it we ball and if I can't cope I back out reeeaaal fast.

26. Would you rather write a fic that had no dialogue or one that was only dialogue?

So I actually have written fics with no dialogue, and indeed those fics are easier for me overall because dialogue just hard??? Talking hard???? What if I get the voices wrong?????

But even harder than that is the MARKERS like I have to be all said and whispered and sentence structure AND IT'S WORTH IT IT IS BUT IT SO STRESSY SOMETIMES.

So if I could write a dialogue fic that really was only dialogue like straight up

"We have to get out of this."

"No, really? What gave you that impression, the acid or the sniper sights on our foreheaads?"

"Shut up."

Then yeah that could be interesting and funny to do depending on what story I'm trying to write. Waver and Diarmuid being bros would be a funny one for it bcus they absolutely get in Situations.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE ASK SORRY IT TOOK A COUPLE WEEKS <3

#solar screams

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billconrad · 9 months ago

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Use My Power for Good or for Awesome?

At the beginning of the internet, there was a series of animated Flash videos inspired by The Strong Bads from the video game Tag Team Wrestling. The idea of the video was that Strong Bad would answer viewers’ emails while dealing with his own problems.

In the first episode, Strong Bad reads an email asking him if he should use his powers for good or for awesome. It was a funny introduction to the series, but it got me thinking when I recently watched the video.

I have written many articles covering writing, life, and random thoughts. It occurred to me that I now have a tiny group of followers. Wow, my own army. So cool! What can I do with this awesome power base?

Well-known people use their fame to promote causes, voice personal opinions, and rant. Climate change is a popular topic, and many people have strong ideas about solving this important issue. Of course, big issues do not have simple solutions, but that does not stop celebrities from sharing their thoughts.

What is the effect of my articles? One recent article examined my distaste for ALL CAPATOL LETTER BOOK TITLES. This reads like the author is SHOUTING their title at me when it should read, “Hey, you look like an amazing reader. Why don’t you pull up a chair and read my book?” I wrote that article to encourage authors to treat readers more respectfully as opposed to a call to action, threat, or DEMAND.

So, indeed, I used my minor base of followers to get my point heard. Let’s put one in the good column. Yay? Well, how about a big issue like the homeless? I certainly think about solving this vital topic, but there is a problem. I do not wish to alienate my loyal fan base. Why would my opinion upset my readers? After all, they have stuck with me so far.

People who regularly read my articles have certain expectations. They expect certain content and are not looking for other content, such as an “in your face” opinion. If my readers were in the mood for such a lightning rod topic, they would seek out other writers who often share such thoughts while knowing in advance that there will be content they might disagree with.

What if I had an important topic that I would risk angering people? There are certainly issues that I care about, and I do have ideas that are not mentioned in the mainstream media. So, why not share them? “Once a month, I will tackle a big issue.” Umm, no.

My intent for writing articles is laser-focused. I only desire to show potential readers what I am about, introduce them to my books, and have a little fun. Therefore, revealing a critical opinion is not in my best interest.

Well, I could go out on a limb. Just once. I promise. Why? It is essential to try new things so that I can grow as a person. Thus, I will share my opinion on a topic of great concern to me: the homeless.

My personality is of the type to methodically tackle problems and start by taking a high-level view. Let’s get some background. I live in the homeless capital of the United States, California. Why are there so many homeless? We have a good climate and a population/government friendly to their plight. Who are the homeless? They are a group of people in our society who do not own houses or have enough money to pay rent and…

Do you see the multiple problems after only one paragraph? I have already failed to meet my strict standards because my general description grouped everybody. Each homeless person has their own story, problems, situation, wishes, level of self-discipline, medical/mental/drug abuse issues, expectations for what society owes them, and desire for how their future should unfold. Oops.

There is an even larger elephant in the room. I have close to zero expertise in this subject. Yes, I have met and talked to several homeless people, seen where they live, and lightly read up on the matter, but this does not qualify me for anything.

To further complicate matters, the definition of homelessness now includes people living out of their car/recreational vehicles/campers/boat, occupying abandoned buildings, squatting on private/public property, building permanent structures, voting, going to school, having jobs, paying taxes, and being represented by special interest groups/lawyers. Assuming these vastly different people are the same is a massive mistake.

And therein lies the problem. This is not a one-solution problem, but laws, politicians, the media, celebrities, and plain old folks like me think they have the best approach because they have not fully studied the issue to form an educated opinion.

It appears my experiment ended in total failure. Now, hold on. “You must break some eggs to make a cake. Bill, you tried and failed. I give you credit for trying something new.” Mmm, no.

I have a small fanbase because I stick to the topics I have experience with. Readers can spot fraud from a mile away, so even though I had good intentions, I must consider that a properly written article requires extensive study, planning, and time for properly writing a solid article. Only then would readers allow me to use my powers for awesome.

I suppose I have come full circle. I only use my powers for good but never intended to be a superstar. I am good with that life choice. Still, it would be cool to change the world positively, if only in some small but awesome way.

You’re the best -Bill

September 17, 2024

Hey, book lovers, I published four. Please check them out:

Interviewing Immortality. A dramatic first-person psychological thriller that weaves a tale of intrigue, suspense, and self-confrontation.

Pushed to the Edge of Survival. A drama, romance, and science fiction story about two unlikely people surviving a shipwreck and living with the consequences.

Cable Ties. A slow-burn political thriller that reflects the realities of modern intelligence, law enforcement, department cooperation, and international politics.

Saving Immortality. Continuing in the first-person psychological thriller genre, James Kimble searches for his former captor to answer his life’s questions.

These books are available in softcover on Amazon and in eBook format everywhere.

#writing #life #strong bad

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castle-dominion · 2 years ago

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6x17 audio but I won't liveblog too too much hopefully

marlowe bowman amann yay

writer upon writer upon director

good profile closeup

Yeah esposition

"package" sure

literally ran lol

self congratulatory stuff now, & finally the how to direct stuff heheh

Just piling it on, for sure

the f*ck you moment XD

as fast as possible, that was indeed good.

What does she know, what doesn't she know? how can we use that?

It's an episode of not knowing, the camera direction is good too. Where is her head level?

violation, intimidation, who do they think she is?

Yay bonus features

bowman saying it's good to hang on a shot? not fastfastfast?

delicious to write lol

that's true! it could be a call-response sort of thing! codewords!

every sentence is painful, dangerous

50k/week for my services? I am not a drug courrier

set dressing my beloved

displacement of information, ooh

Ah they had to switch the location of the phone call bc of the set

KENNY HAD HIS HAND ON THE DOORKNOB THAT ENTIRE TIME

good point, women in hoods is not typical drug stuff

"We think that she's recovering from an attempted suicide overdose when in fact... oops" he says, deadpan

Oh did they ever find that letter?

Small in a large space, always showing the guards

feature film in only eight days...

Ok I'm missing onfo on the actual show bc I'm just watching the audio commentary "I'm coping with having killed somebody" to "I'm coping with the fact I had to stage a convincing fake murder"

gothic <3

surreal images, mansion, in over your head, yeah this is so much larger than life

mythologized characters. When do you reveal them?

lmao hotel california but yeah that lady was weird & totally in a different story.

Earned her way to descend into hell...

You keep the ceo in the basement?

NO MOVIE LIGHTS THERE??

Yeah beckett's mom's murder is still a thing even tho they caught the guy-- wait this episode is before that lol

3x13? Yeah this is great

why put her badge number when she could just put in her initials? or even a random 19484 101st & that's it, espt would be like "wtf is this" & then they look into it & still learn stuff

I recall the audio commentary for this with the extended scene

she was so excited that she was going to be tortured

take it away you horrible (great) writers

indeed, great filming

"wveryone else has beaten her up why not just throw her down the hill?"

organic AND a surprise

maturity? Oh you're right!! She has tact now!

Oof that was nice!

#castle 6x17 #castle 6x17 spoilers #castle s6 bonus features

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ritz-writes · 1 year ago

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omg a new one ALREADY?? WE R FEASTING

Okay, this is gonna be a long one, but I promise it's important.

TIME FOR PLOT!!

“The best karaoke bar this side of the bayou.

its so ironic that i just got finished watching princess and the frog so seeing "this side of the bayou" is now making me imagine louis's voice but higher pitched

Personal opinion, of course. But I am an angel after all so feel free to take that as gospel.”

hes so asdfghgfdsa hes just SO

“I am not singing,” Crowley states firmly. “Nor am I,” Aziraphale frowns.

no duet for us 😔

“I mean, I don’t exactly…dislike him...but he's weird,” You, the dimensional traveler, observe. “Oh absolutely weird,” agrees the witch. “A very weird one indeed, yes,” affirms the angel of the Eastern Gate. “Weird as all fuck,” confirms the demon.

well then he's gonna fit right in (from a writer standpoint i am foaming at the mouth over how this is put together. saying he's weird and then very obviously pointing out how weird they are just by saying what they are. AHGGG i love it i love it so much. very big brain)

“What I know is that I’m not saying anything about Jesus until you sign up and sing me a song.”

DUET DUET DUET DUET

Anathema’s phone suddenly starts ringing.

AH! NEWT!

Now here, dear Reader, let’s take a moment to talk about the Anxiety Loophole.

the anxiety loophole? :o

You may never dream of asking for your food to be sent back at a restaurant, but if your friend needs more ketchup and is too nervous to ask for it, you will put the chef in a headlock if you have to in order to get it for them.

oh my god the anxiety loophole :0

Take the praise, Reader, you’re going to want that confidence in a few minutes.

LMAO

“And tell me, what have the two of you done about that?”

OOP. r they about to get lectured by an angel

He stares at the celestials with an offended glare.

did i mention i love him

but instead of being a Miracle Blocker, it’s a Miracle Enabler numbered 1 to 12.

WAIT A DAMN MINUTE, U TEASED THIS IN THE LAST ONE!! >:O i knew that sentence was setting smth up! we have miracles!!!

“Oop,” Sardis says, “Looks like that didn’t go through. What were you trying to do?” “I was trying to make it so that I could do miracles without the card.”

reader is so much smarter than me, i was thinking of getting my fav candy or soda or smth 😭

Suddenly, you notice that you are holding a second Miracle Enabler, full up.

EYO???

Most books that you read, the words are 2-dimensional, right? The Book of Life sort of has more than 2 dimensions to it. And it records everything.

that is such a badass way of explaining the book of life omg

So I’m basically the angelic equivalent of a dolphin who knows all the secrets of Super Mario.

LMAOO ASDFGHGFDS

You’re about to say something else, but your name gets called to the stage. Oh. Oh right. Oh shit.

oh shit indeed. time to see what song we're singing!

You walk up to the stage and take the microphone uncertainly as the intro music for Taylor Swift’s Shake it Off starts to play.

YIPPEE

Honestly, it's hard to have a bad time singing and dancing to that song.

this is very true

For a few minutes, you’re just having fun, and that’s the most important thing about this, dear Reader.

;w;

Anathema clears her throat.

uh oh, no fishbowl for us. time to get serious

“Yes, what a day that was. Landed in Los Angeles thirteen years ago.”

13 YEARS?? he just been chillin that whole time??

“Oh no, not a baby, but not an adult either,”

oh my god is he a preteen

“He’s thirteen.”

NOOO

“Well,” says Sardis, “He’s definitely white this time, and his family is rich so, what do you think.”

WELP, THE EARTH HAD A GOOD RUN. TIME TO PACK OUR BAGS AND SAY OUR PRAYERS /J

“So,” You conclude, “The person who we need to convince to save the world, the person who needs to take this seriously or everyone dies terribly, the person who we need to care, has all the makings of the one person who is the least likely to care on the entire planet.”

we're doomed

“And the fastest and easiest way for anyone to become a messiah in this world is to be rich, white, and male.”

heavy sigh 😭😭

“To the world.”

to the world, and how ever long it has left

OKAY VOTING TIME. voting metatron again cuz i NEED TO SEE WHAT HES PLANNING. i wanna get into his head. and then yell and call him names during my live reacts

lovely chapter as always. sadris is a sassy bitch and i love him to death i hope he tags along and laughs at jesus being rude

Fanatic Intervention Part 15!!!

Okay, this is gonna be a long one, but I promise it's important. There was just a lot that I had to get in here. Also we had our first ever tie! So I chose between the two. Alright, let's do this. Enjoy!

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

The bar in question is rowdy and rustic. The crowd that has already gathered is loud, probably drunk, and honestly makes you wish you had some anxiety meds with you or something because the button in your pocket is a single thread holding you together when you could really do with a rope. You look over to Aziraphale, who’s grimacing at the scene. Oh good, so you’re not the only one who isn’t a fan of this place. You notice Crowley studying the bar – no doubt trying to get a sense for their selection.

“Over there,” Anathema shouts over the noise. You follow her pointing arm to see Sardis, already at a table and waving you over. Well, at least you definitely have a space to sit. That’s something.

The four of you approach Sardis who waves you into the seats around him with an enormous smile.

“Welcome!” He says grandly, “To my favourite place this side of town.”

“Your favourite place,” You repeat with skepticism, “Is a dive bar?”

“Oh not just any dive bar Little Moth,” Sardis winks as he speaks, “The best karaoke bar this side of the bayou. Personal opinion, of course. But I am an angel after all so feel free to take that as gospel.” He laughs loudly at his own joke. You chuckle uncertainly. Aziraphale shakes his head. Anathema rolls her eyes. Crowley looks like he could vomit. Basically, Sardis is the only one amused. Once he finally stops laughing, he looks around at you. “Such sour faces, my friends. But of course you have, I’ve forgotten my manners! Let me get you some drinks before the festivities start.”

“The festivities?” asks Aziraphale, “I’m sure you don’t mean...”

“The karaoke, of course!” Sardis smiles before leaving the table with a wink. “Be back in a sec!”

“I am not singing,” Crowley states firmly.

“Nor am I,” Aziraphale frowns.

“We may need to consider it,” Anathema says after a pause, “He has information that we need, and we may have to play his game to get it.”

“I mean, I don’t exactly…dislike him...but he's weird,” You, the dimensional traveler, observe.

“Oh absolutely weird,” agrees the witch.

“A very weird one indeed, yes,” affirms the angel of the Eastern Gate.

“Weird as all fuck,” confirms the demon.

Sardis returns carrying a tray with five drinks and lays it proudly on the table in front of them.

“Now, correct me if I’m wrong, but I took my best guess,” Sardis announces as he hands around the drinks, “Sherry for the angel, whiskey for the demon, margarita for the witch, and I played it safe and got you a sangria.” He lays the alcohol in front of each of you. You take a sip and holy crow is it ever delicious. “’S that good, Little Moth?” Sardis asks you as he takes his own seat. You nod, and his smile grows. “Good, glad to hear it.”

“Thank you kindly, Sardis,” Aziraphale ventures, taking a sip of his sherry, “Now, perhaps would you mind telling us what you know?”

Sardis laughs again. He laughs a lot, you notice. Probably having the time of his life with all of this.

“What I know is that I’m not saying anything about Jesus until you sign up and sing me a song.”

Honestly, you need to take a deep breath at that. The irritation is building. First he wouldn’t say anything until you came here, and now he won’t say anything until you sing for him. He keeps changing the goal posts on you. Anathema had said you might need to play his game to get information from him, but you honestly didn’t think it would feel so...condescending.

Anathema’s phone suddenly starts ringing. She pulls it out of her pocket, and you briefly notice the What’s App logo and Newt’s face lighting up the screen. After a brief apology, she excuses herself from the table and leaves the bar. Well. Lucky her. You sigh and stand.

“Yeah okay fine, I’ll be right back.”

“Where’re you going?” Crowley asks. His question has bite, but you’re sure it isn’t anger – he just doesn’t want everyone to end up leaving him with Sardis.

“I’m going to sign up,” You say, “Sing a song. Karaoke, right?” You look at Sardis, who nods appreciatively.

“There now! Little Moth gets it!”

Crowley and Aziraphale both gawk at you, but you’re already turning and beelining for the sign-up table.

Now here, dear Reader, let’s take a moment to talk about the Anxiety Loophole. In ordinary circumstances, you’d be lucky to talk to a crowd and sound normal about it (not to mention the possibility of nausea and such), but the Anxiety Loophole is a magical and gracious thing. In a situation where there is something that must be done, and everyone around you is too scared or embarrassed or anxious themselves to do it, suddenly it becomes possible for you. You may never dream of asking for your food to be sent back at a restaurant, but if your friend needs more ketchup and is too nervous to ask for it, you will put the chef in a headlock if you have to in order to get it for them. Or, say, if an angel and a demon have expressly stated their discomfort with singing in public, and another angel with vital information demands a performance before telling you said information, signing up for karaoke suddenly seems like a piece of cake. Besides, you figure, most of the people in the room are drunk. So you pick something easy, something loud, something most people here probably know already. That way, they’ll do most of the work for you, and then you’re singing with them, instead of for them. Are you a genius? Yes, yes you are. Take the praise, Reader, you’re going to want that confidence in a few minutes.

You return to the table, having put your name and song on the list, and take a seat (and a very large sip of your sangria).

“There,” You declare, “Now how about we talk about Jesus while we wait for my name to be called.”

“You’re not actually serious about this,” Crowley asks. You look to Sardis.

“I am if he is.”

Sardis’ eyes widen in surprise before he smiles again. “Oh, I most definitely like you, Little Moth.” He leans his chin on his hands. “Tell me, what has Metatron had to say about you?”

Oh good. You’re actually getting somewhere.

“Nothing good,” You admit with a frown, “He tried to turn me into salt once, and then trapped me in a bathroom and tried to manipulate me.”

Sardis hums and nods in affirmation. Then he turns to Crowley and Aziraphale.

“And tell me, what have the two of you done about that?” he asks them. The both of them practically jump in surprise.

“W-well,” Aziraphale starts and stops.

“Ngggk,” says Crowley.

“Well you see, it’s a bit more complicated than…”

“So nothing then,” Sardis concludes.

“Wait,” You say, “That’s not fair.”

“Have you given Little Moth any way to defend or protect themselves?”

“They don’t need to!” You all but shout, “They’re with me basically all the time!”

But Sardis doesn’t seem to hear you. He stares at the celestials with an offended glare. Neither Aziraphale or Crowley seem to know what to make of it, but he doesn’t give them much of a chance to before he reaches into his jacket pocket, pulls out a card, and hands it to you. You take it from him, worried that if you don’t he might get upset with Aziraphale and Crowley and really it’s the Metatron’s fault, not theirs. Put the blame in the right place. Your hands are starting to shake a little as you look at the card.

“Oh!” You exclaim, relaxing a little. Actually it’s not all that bad. It’s a punch card of sorts. It reminds you a little bit of Furfur’s card from the 1941 minisode, but instead of being a Miracle Blocker, it’s a Miracle Enabler numbered 1 to 12. You notice that each number is perforated – meant to be torn off so that you don’t need to carry around a hole punch. Clever, actually. You show it to Aziraphale and Crowley.

“Oh my,” says Aziraphale, “That really is clever. I’m rather embarrassed to admit that the idea never came to me.”

“Huh,” Crowley adds, helpfully.

“Yeah,” says Sardis, “You probably never had to think about things like, what if they ever turn off your miracles Up There. Probably helps that your only mention in the Bible isn’t about how shit you are.”

You look at the card thoughtfully for a minute. You think about all the genie questions you’ve seen online.

“Go on, Little Moth,” Sardis coos gently, “Try it out.”

You glance at him and then back at the card. Well he’s not giving you any hints about how this thing works, so probably best to just follow your instincts. After taking a second to think, you rip off the number 1 and make a wish.

The number has disappeared from your fingers and reappeared attached to the card.

“Oop,” Sardis says, “Looks like that didn’t go through. What were you trying to do?”

“I was trying to make it so that I could do miracles without the card.”

Sardis starts to laugh. “Oh you have a clever mind! I like the way you think!” His laughter continues for a moment before he calms himself, though you notice it takes him some time. Then he shakes his head.

“Listen,” he says to you, “Humans just can’t do miracles. For you to be able to do them without the card, you would have to change your entire species. And this little thing just isn’t built for that sort of miracle. Try again, something smaller this time.”

Your brow furrows in concentration as you stare back at the card. Something reasonable that wouldn’t need a big change in order to work. Oh, wait a minute. You rip off the number 1, and make a wish. Suddenly, you notice that you are holding a second Miracle Enabler, full up.

“There you go, Little Moth,” Sardis sighs approvingly, “Now that’s how you do it!” The first card goes in a place you can easily reach – your jeans pocket, perhaps. The second one you fold up and place in your sock. For emergencies.

“What did you mean about your mention in the Bible?” Aziraphale ventures, apparently sensing that he isn’t in trouble anymore. Sardis raises an eyebrow.

“Didn’t you read Revelation?” he asks.

“Well yes, of course,” Aziraphale replies, “But I don’t recall it saying you were...well...bad.”

“Shit, Angel,” corrects Crowley, “He said it calls him shit.”

“I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead,” Sardis quotes, “Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you received and heard; obey it, and repent.” He shakes his head. “Does that sound like a glowing report to you? No, see, I invited that asshat John over for brunch one time, okay? ONE. He gets the runs, blames it on the bacon. Next thing I know, I’m getting hate mail, supposedly from Jesus, with passive aggressive notes about people who haven’t soiled their clothes. Yeah, no, I know exactly whose message that was.” He huffs angrily and sips his drink.

“So….” You interject cautiously, “You stayed down here because...oh, because Heaven endorsed it?”

“Enthusiastically,” he confirms, “I’m just a minor angel – ha, barely that. More of a guardian. They don’t care about me as much as the message.”

You nod, Gabriel’s trial coming to mind. It’s all about the message.

“We know all about that,” You say gently, “They threatened to erase Aziraphale’s name from the Book of Life. Well, anyone really, who uh, helped Gabriel escape judgment.” Sardis raises an eyebrow at that.

“Oh yeah? What did that bureaucratic ass do?”

“He fell in love with Beelzebub and said ‘Nah’ to Armageddon Part 2.”

“Psh, oh yeah, that’ll do it,” Sardis says, taking another sip, “Not that any of them could erase anyone. Not really. You need to know someone’s true name for that.”

“Hold up,” says Crowley, “The Book of Life isn’t actually real?”

“Oh, it is,” says Sardis, “I know it for a fact. You see, one of the things of being an Original Angel of the Church,” he says the title mockingly, you notice, “is that you end up with a gift. Something to give the worthy when they ascend. Mine happens to be knowing everyone’s true name.”

“Wait a minute, wait,” You say, “That’s...that’s...”

“I know,” Sardis says, “Look, it’s like this. Most books that you read, the words are 2-dimensional, right? The Book of Life sort of has more than 2 dimensions to it. And it records everything. Now look,” he takes a packet of coarse sugar, “This is a soul,” he opens it and pours the chunks onto the table, “Each soul can be different people throughout its existence, and the Book, for accuracy purposes, records your name in whatever life you're living,” he picks up one crystal, “on the first dimension,” he places it on top of the paper pouch, “and your true name on the dimensions that lie underneath.” He sits up triumphantly. “So before you can actually erase anyone you need to know their true name, and before you know that, you need to know how to read the Book, and before that you need the gift to be able to perceive the different dimensions.”

“Which you have,” Crowley concludes. Sardis nods.

“Which I have, yes. Unfortunately, I also have the misfortune of never being able to be anywhere near the Book of Life. So I’m basically the angelic equivalent of a dolphin who knows all the secrets of Super Mario. I know it, but fat lot of good it does me. Or will ever, for that matter.”

You’re about to say something else, but your name gets called to the stage.

Oh. Oh right.

Oh shit.

You walk up to the stage and take the microphone uncertainly as the intro music for Taylor Swift’s Shake it Off starts to play. You chose it because you know some of the actions to it and I mean, the lyrics are so simple that you’re hoping the drunk crowd will start singing along with you.

“I stay out too late,

Got nothing in my brain,

At least that’s what people say,

That’s what people say,”

A random drunk person in the back cheers.

“But I keep cruisin’

Can’t stop won’t stop movin’

It’s like I got this music in my mind sayin’

It’s gonna be alright”

The entire bar claps three times. Oh wow.

Basically, your plan works. They all can’t help but join in for the chorus, and you end up having a lot of fun with it. Their enthusiasm is so validating, and after a minute or two you don’t care if it’s because of the alcohol or if they actually think you’re good. You just sing the song and you have a fabulous time of it. Honestly, it's hard to have a bad time singing and dancing to that song. You forget about saving the world, you forget that Crowley and Aziraphale are watching you, everything just fades away for a few minutes except for the lyrics on the screen in front of you and the energy of the people in the bar. For a few minutes, you’re just having fun, and that’s the most important thing about this, dear Reader.

When the song is over you return to the table. Anathema is finally back, and you notice she’s finished her drink pretty quickly. Good thing you ate before coming. Sardis is clapping for you.

“That was excellent! Great job, Little Moth! Here, have another one on me.” He waves his hand and a second sangria appears IN A FISHBOWL. Oh...Aziraphale and Crowley better cover you later, a hangover while one world-saving duty would suck.

Anathema clears her throat.

“So,” she says, you notice her voice shakes a little. Probably because she downed that drink so fast. “About Jesus.”

“Ah yes,” sighs Sardis, “The prodigal son himself. Well, I will tell you that he is here, though not in this city. Came down in a plane and everything.”

“Ha!” You say, pointing triumphantly, “I told you!”

Sardis chuckles. “Yes, what a day that was. Landed in Los Angeles thirteen years ago.”

You nearly choke on your drink.

“Los Angeles,” says Aziraphale, “Well that’s awfully on the nose, isn’t it?”

“Wait a minute,” You say, “So he’s an adult then, right? Not a baby?” You’re hoping. Your fingers are crossed that maybe he arrived in the states when he was a toddler, or a small kid.

“Oh no, not a baby, but not an adult either,” confirms Sardis.

“Don’t say it,” You beg.

“What’s wrong?” Aziraphale asks. Crowley looks like he’s on alert. Even Anathema looks a little unsure what to make of you.

“Okay actually just say it,” You decide, “How old is he?”

“He’s thirteen.”

“Oh shit,” says Anathema.

“Is he at least one of the nice thirteen year-olds?” You ask hopefully.

“Well,” says Sardis, “He’s definitely white this time, and his family is rich so, what do you think.”

You drop your head into your hands.

“Um, I’m sorry,” Aziraphale interrupts, “But, ah, what exactly is the problem here?”

When, dear Reader, was the last time you were around a 13-year-old boy? The age when they are all about proving how masculine they are, the age when they like to play rough in places where they really shouldn’t be playing rough, be mean for no reason other than because it makes them feel like a badass, jump and hoot and holler and laugh at anyone with sense because they get a kick out of adults getting angry with them. There is no force more annoying or enraging than a 13 year old, of any gender. But now add privileged and spoiled to that and you have a force to be reckoned with. You briefly relay this to Aziraphale.

“Ugh,” Anathema groans, “Why did they have to do it like that? I thought Jesus was supposed to be all about the outsiders and being kind to each other and things.”

“Well,” suggests Aziraphale, “I suppose that was probably the first time around. This time, they’re probably a bit less concerned about the, ah, morality of the whole thing, and more concerned about the messiah bit.”

“Right,” Anathema says with a disillusioned sigh, “And the fastest and easiest way for anyone to become a messiah in this world is to be rich, white, and male.”

“Cutting corners, I believe humans would say,” concludes Aziraphale.

Sardis nods, a frown upon his face. The previously cheerful angel isn’t laughing anymore as he raises his glass and says “To the world.”

❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ 🖤

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#ritz reacts #good omens #anathema is keeping her emotions in check very well

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