#Yes I am using my free will to come with the most crazy theory

[caprisunr]

theory 8x17

earthquake/fake tsunami warning : doctor odyssey and 9-1-1 jointed timeline without crossover.

9-1-1 and Doctor Odyssey both share a universe. As we got confirmed by Angela Bassett's crossover in DO. Not only that but they're both based in LA, which means that if DO is 'getting an earthquake, which triggers a tsunami warning', 9-1-1 should also be getting it. For them to make this plausible both episodes need to air one after the other, the same day. 8x17, and 1x17 air the same week; May 9th.

9-1-1 airs first, but we know already that 8x16 is going to be all about them dealing with Bobby's 'death'. Let's assume that Bobby does come back at the end of the episode after being buried alive. That means that the beginning of 8x17 is going to be about getting Bobby out. I'm guessing that since the leaked script depicted Maddie not recognizing Bobby's voice and him eventually losing signal, the 118 is going to be on the lookout for a while, in the cemetery, without any prior information about who that man might be. The finding that it's Bobby will be a surprise that is going to keep them entertained for the entirety of the episode.

8x17 is called 'Don't Drink The Water', and while is used as a phrase to warn travelers of contaminated waters, we know that while earthquakes are happening it is best to not consume water directly from the source as not only infrastructures are tempered with but also sediments in sweet water bodies, which can eventually mess-up groundwater.

My initial thought regarding the title is that it's inherited and related to the nature of the emergency. The time spam between finding Bobby and the emergency isn't going to be long, in fact I would bet on it happening whilist they get the bell from dispatch. I think this because when Doctor Odyssey airs, they are most likely doing an 'X hours earlier' type of approach instead of continuing the emergency where 9-1-1 left off, as It would feel weird to have another two-parter.

To back the earthquake/ fake tsunami alarm, I will say that Tim has stated in a recent interview that we would have a big emergency as a 'mass casualty' and there's nothing like a natural disaster to cause those.

From what we know so far, in Doctor Odyssey: “After Max’s declaration fractures his relationship with Avery, he leaves the ship and finds himself caught in an earthquake, which triggers a tsunami warning. With The Odyssey forced to leave port, Max races to return before it’s too late.” —The thing is, they never state that it is a tsunami outright, they only say that it triggers a warning. What is happening for sure is the earthquake. For an earthquake to trigger a tsunami, it needs to be between 6-7 magnitude, taking us back to that season 2 earthquake. Season 8 has been all about fake-outs and regression; we've had a lot of callbacks to earlier seasons on storylines that weren't concluded and overall plots that haunted the narrative. So it wouldn't be too far-fetched to think that they're using earthquake-tsunami, both emergencies that we already experienced during season 2 and season 3.

And what did the earthquake and tsunami have in common? They're both heavily Buddie episodes, with Buck and Eddie showing how established their teamwork and friendship already is after they promised to have each other's back an episode ago; An episode ending up with Buck driving Eddie to get Christopher. And the other having Buck save Christopher, who was given to Buck to take care of to distract him from his crushed leg. The tsunami arch concludes with Eddie ensuring Buck that he entrust him Christopher more than anyone else.

I don't want to get into the potential of 'canonifying' buddie of it all, but I do want to get into this emergency being a trigger to get Christopher back to LA during 8x17-8x18 instead of 8x16, and the story focusing on Buck being integrated into the Diaz family dynamic again after as long as Chris left for Texas.

Into the Bobby/Eddie of it all, I think that while in 3x02 it was on Buck to feel impending doom over his place as a firefighter, this worry is going to be shifted into Bobby after his miraculous forthcoming, and Eddie in front of his doubt about whether to stay or to go. And possibly, this is going to be his (Bobby's) last rodeo before he decides that he can't deal with it anymore and he wants/needs to retire, and for Eddie to decide that he needs to stay and get Christopher back in LA at the end of the episode/ or beginning of 8x18.

[the second the director and writter credits for 8x17 drop I'll let yall know if I still stand by this —by the way, I do think Bobby dying is a big mislead to hide something else entirely.

The season finale is called Sesmic Shift I would say the possibilities of getting this are pretty plausible.]

[cavydude]

Hey everyone guess what's back?

To celebrate the one-year anniversary of the remaster, we (the fine folks over at the Baten Kaitos fan Discord) are bringing back Spiriter Week! And now it's bigger than ever: we're going multi-platform!

So mark you calendars for September 15th-21st!!!

Wait, what's this now? Back in ye olde golden age of Tumblr, we used to have an annual thing we called Spiriter Week, a week-long celebration of our favorite card-game RPGs.

What do you mean, "multiplatform"? Due to fandom no longer being fully (or even mostly) within the confines of one website, we figured it'd be a good idea to have folks participate wherever they want to. Tumblr, Twitter, Discord, or wherever. Still have a Pillowfort? Go crazy there too.

Ok, how do I participate? It's super easy- just post something Baten Kaitos related every day. Could be a fic, art, videos, whatever. Wherever you're posting it, use the tag #Spiriter Week I am not blessed with creative prowess Neither am I we're all just bullshitting Doesn't have to be anything skillful like art or writing. Could be fan theories, a personal anecdote, ranking your favorite xyz or even a haiku. Like this example I stole borrowed from No's original post:

Holoholo bird All my apples are rotten Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck

This sounds great but I'm super busy there's no way I can post every day. Again, same here friend. No worries, even just one or two during the week is fine. Let's face it, we've all aged a number of years since these were last a thing and life has a way of stockpiling responsibilities.

On what authority are you organizing this? Alright ya got me I'm just some rando with a Gibari pfp. But come on, why not have some fun and build some hype around these games we love?

That's a nice banner where'd you get it? Damn right! Credit goes to No, who still had the old banner and managed to change some digits :D

How can we follow for updates? Here on Tumblr, I (and of course anyone else who wants to say something on the topic) will be posting in the #Spiriter Week tag. Some major updates might also be posted in the baten kaitos tag but I don't wanna spam it too much.

But yeah, that should cover most of the major stuff, feel free to reach out with any questions!

[luchicm04]

Gallery 2

I just discovered that there's a 100 limit to the links you can make in one post so I ran out of space in my first gallery, but I'm not gonna let that stop me from sharing my works with the world✨

(Full Masterpost Here)

If you like them, feel free to support me on Tiktok as @luciacm83, or on Instagram as @plk_8398. That's where I'm posting them.

EDITS

Edit 1 - Bamboleo

Edit 2 - Los gustos no cambian, evolucionan🍜🍥/🍃🌊

Edit 3 - Mr. Blue Sky🍃🌊

Edit 4 - Like a prayer

Edit 5 - Venom🖥️🐣

Edit 6 - Clocks🐞🐈‍⬛

Edit 7 - Never forget you

Edit 8 - Snowman

Edit 9 - The family Metkayina🍃🌊

Edit 10 - Feel this moment🍜🍥

Edit 11 - U're Mine🦉🏠

Edit 12 - Under the sign of Butterfly🦋🪄

Edit 13 - You didn't know🦋🪄

Edit 14 - Tsugikuni Yoriichi⚔️👺

Edit 15 - Locked out of heaven💎⭐

Edit 16 - Guide you home (I would die for you)💜🐉

Edit 17 - Die Your Daughter💣🥊

Edit 18 - Keep up🤖🚗

Edit 19 - Mockingbird🐎🌈

Edit 20 - My favorite aroace characters🏳️‍🌈 - PT. 1 || PT. 2

Edit 21 - Cats🤖🚗 - PT. 1 || PT. 2 || PT. 3 || PT. 4

[...]

FANARTS

Fanart 1 - What is Ennui...?🌈🧠

Fanart 2 - 5 things I used to believe about Pokémon🖥️🐣

Fanart 3 - How Pinterest sees me

Fanart 4 - Abandoned headquarters🌈🧠

Fanart 5 - "Are there any dead bodies up there?"🍃🌊

Fanart 6 - No thoughts. Just... Pandora🍃🌊

Fanart 7 - emotions - inside out / inside out 2🌈🧠

Fanart 8 - the buzz on maggie • maggie pesky

Fanart 9 - Naruto - All Manga/Anime Arcs🍜🍥

Fanart 10 - dragon ball super: broly • cheelai

Fanart 11 - "Have you heard the tale of Steven Universe?"💎⭐

Fanart 12 - "I feel so alone..." "You're not alone."💜🐉

Fanart 13 - Spyro the Dragon Theory: Dragonesses💜🐉

Fanart 14 - So would this technically count as a swarm?🤖🚗

Fanart 15 - Transformers LGTB flag🤖🚗

Fanart 14 - Mane 6 LGBT flags🐎🌈 - PT. 1 || PT. 2 || PT. 3 || PT. 4 || PT. 5 || PT. 6

[...]

MEMES

Meme 1 - I am fckn crazy, but I am free🌈🧠

Meme 2 - "Is there anyone in this franchise who loves men?"🖥️🐣

Meme 3 - Almost there...🍃🌊

Meme 4 - How bad can I possibly be?🍃🌊

Meme 5 - Two braids, one helluva mind

Meme 6 - "When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die..."🔥❄️

Meme 7 - A small thread of ads from Helluva Boss that have made me giggle🩸🗡️

Meme 8 - Which scream is real?/¿Cuál grito es el real?🍃🌊

Meme 9 - TRAIDORES (TRAITORS)🧸🏭

Meme 10 - Pretty Quaritch Swag🍃🌊

Meme 11 - Is that a Jojo reference?!

Meme 12 - Noobs vs pros💪💚

Meme 13 - Am I a good boy, mommy?🌿🎎

Meme 14 - Come. Fly with me, gatinha.🍃🌊

Meme 15 - 1999 or 2018?💜🐉

Meme 16 - On my way to the SATs...

Meme 17 - Effort vs likes

Meme 18 - Annoying enemies...💜🐉

Meme 19 - TLOS Sparx💜🐉

Meme 20 - "Yes sir" "Your daughter calls me daddy too"🦔💙

Meme 21 - The purple dragon from Spyro💜🐉

Meme 22 - I'm a liar💎⭐

Meme 23 - TLOS deleted scene💜🐉

Meme 24 - The life of Jake Sully🍃🌊

Meme 25 - I just wanna be part of your symphony💣🥊

Meme 26 - Ehetx ngenga (Excuse you)🍃🌊

Meme 27 - Spyro rizz💜🐉

Meme 28 - "Why do you like these games so much?"💜🐉

Meme 29 - "I heard people are shipping us!" "TO WHERE?"💜🐉

Meme 30 - Onyx core (Spanish Version)

Meme 31 - Kissing tall boyfriend 101🍃🌊

Meme 32 - Spyro bosses be like...💜🐉 (Spanish Version)

Meme 33 - Pizza or n-word?💜🐉

Meme 34 - "Daddy?" "Do I look like-?"

Meme 35 - "I call it trespassing, it rhymes with Grug."🤖🚗

Meme 36 - "I didn't need that!"🤖🚗

Meme 37 - priDEMONth pridEMOnth

Meme 38 - Every. Fcking. Time.🦔💙

Meme 39 - Different characters, same vibes🦔💙/🤖🚗

Meme 40 - "I'm by the window" "JUMP" - PT. 1🤖🚗 || PT. 2🍜🍥

Meme 41 - Mr. Bombastic Bomba Fantastic

Meme 42 - fvck the enforcers VS "fvck the enforcers"💣🥊

Meme 43 - Cursed Frames - PT. 1🩸🗡️ || PT. 2💎⭐

Meme 44 - Problematic fusion💎⭐

Meme 45 - Tenemos el grupo más diverso // We have the most diverse group🤖🚗

Meme 46 - That one comic panel🐎🌈

[...]

GIFS

Gif 1 - The 6 known Clans in the Avatar Movies🍃🌊

Gif 2 - TYRION LANNISTER aka. THE LITTLE LION🔥❄️

[...]

COVERS

[...]

[anxious-little-faicye]

The FNAF Movie (no spoilers)

So, I just got back from watching the so awaited Five Nights at Freddy's movie, and boy oh boy... I can't even put into words how emotional I am. It was such a wild, crazy, amazing thing to actually be sitting down on a cinema and watch a movie I waited for- what, 8 years? I remember being a child and first learning about the game through ✨youtube✨ (as most of us did let's be honest), and I'm not exaggerating when I say that changed my life forever. I got into gaming and social media because of it, I made some of my best friends because of it (shout out to the gang I used to rp FNAF with on elementary school), I discovered my interests and passions that shaped who I was and who I am, and it all started out because of a silly horror game about haunted animatronics.

And today? Today it wasn't me that went to see that movie. It was the lonely, shy 9 year old girl that got bullied at school because she liked "weird boy stuff" and hanged out with boys because they understood her. It was the 10 year old girl that saw FNAF 3 and 4 come out and discovered she loved to uncover the lore of the franchise and watched about a million theory videos. It was the 11 year old girl that watched lived as two youtubers played Sister Location the day it came out. It was the 15 year old teenager that rediscovered her love for the franchise and found Matpat's channel and started to make her own theories. It was that 16 year old teen that read the first trilogy of FNAF books and from then on took it upon herself to know every single detail about the story, plus finding out about our beloved King Of Five Nights At Freddy's™ and watched his FNAF playlist top to bottom.

It was them.

So I went there- with my crappy Vanny mask I made in 3 days, with the Freddy pushy I've had since I was 11, with my dad' stolen purple shirt, and honestly? I had the time of my life. I was at the edge of my seat the whole movie, screaming and hitting (lovingly /j) my friends every time a very specific detail came out, giggling and kicking my feet once You Know Who appeared or when something that matched the lore perfectly happened. And once me and my friends came out, we were all still yelling and singing our lungs out to FNAF songs. It was more that I could've hoped for.

I won't go into much detail on this post, because I wanna keep it as much spoiler-free as I can, but I'm just gonna say this... This movie was a hug from Scott Cawthon to all fans of the franchise, especially those that have been here from the very beginning. It was his gift. His way of saying 'thank you'. Sure, some plot points were absolute bonkers, and to be fair it lacked a bit of the Spooky Factor and more gore. But overall... I FREAKING LOVED EVERY MOMENT OF IT. I felt the same excitement that when I first discovered the games and started to get into the lore. You can tell that a lot of heart and soul was put into this, and that it wasn't made for a quick cash grab.

Was it worth the wait? Well, that depends on how you wanna see it. Keep in mind that this is planned to be a trilogy, so it has to have some loose plot points in order to set the ground for a second movie- let alone leave stuff out from the games and books. Is wasn't groundbreaking, and no, it doesn't include every single detail about the story. But it was a perfect introduction to the universe, and I think that's all it's set up to be. But I personally thought it was SO worth it and, let's be real, we've waited 8 fucking years for this! Even if it turned out to be a piece of crap (which it isn't), I would still be excited.

Anyway, yeah, was the movie perfect? No. Was a bit weird and confusing at some points? Yes. But it was made for the fans, for those of us that FNAF played a huge role in our lives as kids, and for those of us who just discovered the franchise not so long ago. It was made with love- for the games, for the creator, and for all of us. The fans that have built an amazing community that still stands strong today, a community filled with incredibly talented people like artists, singers, animators, youtubers, theory crafters (you're doing God's Work jsdhsj), cosplayers, editors, writers, the list just goes on and on. It was made with all of us in mind. So as broken and confusing as it might be, is beautiful. What represents is beautiful. And hey, it wouldn't be FNAF if it weren't broken and confusing am I right fellas?

*cries in Theorist*

So I guess my final thoughts are just... Thank you.

Thank you Scott Cawthon for all those years of scares and joy you have given me, thank you for making the game that would shape my life forever, thank you for loving your fans as much as you do, and thank you for not giving up on this movie despite all the things that happened along the way. You might have fucked up big time on some things, but I would be lying to myself if I said I don't appreciate you. Thank you for the best moments of my life.

And thank YOU, Five Nights at Freddy's community for everything you have done these years. If the franchise is what it is today is because it always had an amazing and creative fanbase backing it up and making sure it never died, no matter what sticks and stones came our way. I am so proud to be a part of this, and I hope we'll still be together many years to come.

And thank me, for making it alive and in one piece to the FNAF movie. Damn it took a lot of pain to get here, but I did it... I survived this long. And I can survive even longer.

I hope you can stay alive 5 more nights for this :)

[wily-one24]

questions: 6, 12, 34, 38

Ooooh, more asks. I love it. :D

6. What's the best part of being online/ a creator?

Well, the best obviously is the interaction. I love talking to people and going back and forth with theories and discussions and squeeing and fandom loving. It's so much fun. I adore it.

And, of course, being as modest as I am, I love discussing my fics with people in the comments. The give and take, back and forth, it's energising.

The worst?

Sometimes i can put pressure on myself to get things done. It's supposed to fandom, a fun space, and most times I realise this, but this week I have been especially non-productive in fic writing. My friend keeps remindign me that I've been putting out bunches lately, so I deserve a break, but... I feel disappointed in myself.

Also, obvi, the odd fandom hate. But I only ever got that in OUaT fandom. I stay WAY AWAY from fandom dramas the majority of the time. Live and let live. Be free, baby. It's all good in the garden.

12. What's some good advice you want to share?

Do not borrow stress/worry from the future.

It sounds so simple, but I think this is a trap that is incredibly easy to fall into and a lot of us do it, myself included. Something happens and we begin to catastrophise. We think up the worst scenarios. "What if...?" and "When this...?" etc.

An example: my son has lost an item he really wants. He remembers lending it to his friend, but over text his friend said he didn't have it. He has torn his bedroom apart looking for it.

He could barely even sleep last night, almost in tears.

I had to remind him, reassure him. We have a plan.

He's going to speak to his friend face to face at school today and remind him (without accusing) that his is an important item.

If the friend really doesn't have it, we are going to clean his room from top to bottom (and probably excavate some ancient ruins, I have no idea what the hell is in that room, tbh).

If we still don't find it after that, we will make a new plan.

If worst comes to worst and the item is really lost, it is an item and can be replaced. Obviously, it would be better if we find it.

But he should not work himself up into a panicked/anxious state about never having this thing again, when there are things to do and a plan to follow and solutions to find.

This is a SMALL example of things we all do every day. An allegory for the huge, more adult problems we face. Like, we panic about situations and go into crisis mode and borrow stress from the future. TRY NOT TO DO THAT. Follow your steps first. Look for solutions.

At least, follow the steps and look for solutions BEFORE you stress and panic. Once things become present instead of future, then you should worry about them.

34. Any pet peeves?

I mean, rudeness.

More particularly, I cannot stand loud eaters. I just... I can't. It annoys the ever living fuck out of me. I cannot sit next to someone who eats loudly.

It's a personal thing, I admit it. It's definitely some processing thing, I can't tell you why. But it drives me absolutely bonkers. I try to be reasonable and, if possible, remove myself from the situation.

I have had to relax my rules in the house about eating in the bedrooms (well, I mean, the kids are teenagers now, they deserve some responsibility). Because now I tell them with snack foods and stuff they can just go eat in their rooms, rather than sit right behind me crunching on crackers or popcorn or apples or some other loud as fuck shit they happen to find in a draw marked "things that will drive mum batshit crazy". Obvi they can't take, like, entire plates of spaghetti down there, but snack foods yes.

Or I will leave the room so I don't end up yelling. Because I will end up doing that.

There are certain times, like out in public and with large groups, where this is unavoidable. In which case... I try my absolute hardest to grin and bear it. But it's really damned difficult.

But overall?

Rudeness. There's no need for it.

Just be nice, man.

38. This is the favourite song question, which I just answered. You can find the answers... here.

@dahllaz, thank you for some thought provoking questions!!!

[urdinosaurs]

Hi, so on your miles thing, (idk what else to call it because I am still learning english, feel free to ignore this)

I honestly feel like that anon about being a little controlling has a good point, a bit of a personal experience, when someone i was close with died due to neglecting health on their own part. I started to become rather 'obsessed' with making sure others were healthy, which has now calmed down now that I have realized health isn't always predictable and it isn't healthy.

but the full on toxic fics I have read, there is a difference between trying to progress grief and just being full on toxic/abusive.

of course everybody griefs in a different way, but it just feels so weird when people try to justify abusive behavior on grief.

Anyways sorry for the rant and if I repeated things a lot-

(I honestly love how you explained everything and things, you are really good with words)

Sorry for the late reply. My life has been really hectic and crazy, but thank you, and don't worry, your English is really good.

I know people have dropped the topic, but I still want to put in my opinion because I totally get what your saying, and that wasn't really something I discussed on my last rant, so let me do it here because you have an excellent point. I talked about toxic fics in general and pertaining to Miles's character, but I forgot about his grief in my explanation.

So, to elaborate, yes, you are right. When going through something as traumatic as Miles did and losing someone that close to you can prompt many types of coping mechanisms. (the most I believe would ever happen is him being emotionally unavailable/neglectful because of what he went through, and at that point, he wouldn't even be in a relationship because of it, but that's my theory, so it doesn't apply to this.)

But being toxic because of his grief is a no-go. See the fics I've read, Miles is toxic because of how much he cares or how little he does, not that it makes it any more right, but it's not a coping mechanism, just a part of who he is and the fact that people are trying to say grief is responsible abuse is crazy. It's an incredibly sensitive topic when people go there, and it takes the conversation to another level.

We shouldn't be treating this like it's normal.

That's where people need to educate themselves if they are so far in their own bubble that they can't see what's wrong with that. And with so many people writing him like this, it normalizes abuse (not even going to say toxic because we are beyond that point), and that's not at all okay by any stretch of the imagination.

I haven't seen any fics on Toxic!Miles (actually toxic, not hard abuse) where it's because of his grief, so there is only so much I can add.

I think it seems like he's so emotionally unavailable by the little reactions or mannerisms he displayed in the movie. I am not trying to justify it, but with the little of him we see is so cold and appearing apathetic, it's easy to make the correlation he's like that in all aspects of his life, which, for all we know, he is.

Though I see many arguments that e-42 and e-1610 are parallel universes or that the Miles we know would never do that, why would this version of him be that way? To which I say nothing is confirmed, and you shouldn't spread misinformation because it never once said he was in a parallel universe. The book, which doesn't count because the information is not in the movie, so it's an unreliable source, says he comes from an alternate dimension. We know that not every version of one person is the same across universes.

But really, it boils down to writers not realizing what's wrong with this. Lack of exposure to this kind of content or over-exposure to content where this is normalized is responsible for it. So I genuinely think that newer writers or younger writers just don't see the harm in it because either they've never experienced it, or it's normalized to the point where it's seen as romantic, which divides many of us. Younger audiences aren't experienced enough to see how harmful this actually is, and that's why they are getting so possessive over their work because, to them, they did nothing wrong, and you're just being too sensitive.

(don't even get me started on the 18+ writers who write "toxic!Miles" when it's really just him being emotionally abusive. In your grown age, you should know better and put such warnings that this is not okay.)

Also, there is a line that people often cross and get carried away with in writing toxic characters. THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TOXIC CHARACTERS AND CHARACTERS THAT ARE TOXIC.

Toxic!characters are an AU or Canon divergence. Characters that are toxic are what you genuinely believe they're like. See, I don't have much of a problem with toxic!Characters, it's an AU; you know this is wrong and not legitimately what they're like and acknowledge that this behavior is harmful and label it as such. I enjoy a good toxic AU or touching on toxic behavior occasionally, too.

Headcanoning characters, on the other hand, is what has people in such a fit. This is harmful, and you are treading on a line so thin you should take ten steps back, especially with a character who is a minor. Writers who so flippantly make him emotionally neglectful or controlling are a little weird.

The cause of this, or what I believe it is, is the glamorization of emotional abuse, controlling, possessiveness, etc... Media has a lot to do with this (TV shows and movies) where this is accepted as a desirable thing to happen and desensitization to the content blurs the line or right and wrong and is often the cause fantasies to made from this topic.

So, in conclusion, I don't think people realize what they are doing is wrong, and social media and films are often the cause of this. Bringing awareness to the subject and how it is harmful is vital, and this whole controversy is definitely an eye-opener for many people. It's good we are discussing this because that way, writers can know better and be better educated in the future.

Anyways, thanks for listening to my 925 word rant. :)

[psychewritesbs]

Chapter 217: Bath, part 2—Cursed Lover: Introduction to the Psychology of Romantic Love 101

Cursed lovey-dovey JJK Sunday! 

I know this chapter in specific has had polarizing reactions but I personally loved how unserious it is and I LOVE YOROZU! crazy bitch I love her

There are no coincidences in this world, what is there is hitsuzen 必然. Over the last couple of weeks I’ve been re-visiting the Psychology of Romantic Love. So when this chapter dropped with its implications of one-sided love, I couldn’t not write about it.

So just a heads up, in the spirit of chasing after my own love-induced delusions, I went on the usual massive tangent and wrote about LOVE under the cut. 

Thing is... and this is just a theory but... love is the most twisted curse of them all.

愛よ。

So anyways... 

And yes... this is also a Depth Psychology lecture.

That said...

Welcome to Introduction to the Psychology of Romantic Love 101.

Drunk in love

First, I’m not going to do an in-depth exploration of the Psychology of Romantic love here because I am saving that for a different essay that I am working on. So what you’ll find is more of a brief introduction to this complex subject.

Second, DESPITE the impression you might get from reading this, I am actually a romantic who willingly and perhaps rather foolishly loves/hates to get drunk in love. 

Third, music is perhaps one of the best ways to convey something as indescribable such as love. So you’ll find I drop specific lyrics and song titles for reference. Feel free to listen to, skip or ignore. 

That said, I’ll also admit that since I started re-visiting the Psychology of Romantic Love, I’ve literally been looking for the right opportunity to drop these two song titles: Lovefool by The Cardigans, and Drunk in Love by Béyonce and her babydaddy, Jay-Z.

And while Lovefool is more appropriate for a one-sided obsession (I think we’ve long since left “crush” territory) such as Yorozu’s...

So I cry and I pray and I beg

Love me love me Say that you love me Fool me fool me Go on and fool me Love me love me Pretend that you love me Leave me leave me

The idea of being drunk in love also applies quite well. In the Psychology of Romantic Love, this is known as “drinking the love potion” by Depth Psychologists. 

Boy, I'm drinking, get my brain right

In drinking the love potion, the lover (aka the one doing the loving) is privy to experiencing the magic realms of the heart--the beauty of love itself. This is what is described as the usual symptoms of being in love, like butterflies in your chest or stomach and having an overall dreamy temperament.

The problem with drinking the love potion often lies in the delusions that are inherent to being drunk in love. At their best, these delusions are nothing more than an overall feeling of pleasantness, sort of like seeing the world through rose-colored glasses. But at their worse, these delusions can alter how the lover perceives reality itself.

But don’t take my word for it, when it comes to describing what it’s like to observe someone who is drunk in love from drinking the love potion, Fuel said it best in their song Shimmer: 

She dreams a champagne dream Strawberry surprise Pink linen on white paper Lavender and cream Fields of butterflies Reality escapes her

What I love most about Yorozu being completely out of touch with reality is that her version of “lavender and cream” and “fields of butterflies” is more akin to destroying 3 villages and writing haiku about the decapitated head of the most handsome man in each of those villages.

crazy bitch I love her

Tainted love

Also, can we stop and appreciate how comical this whole page is?

Gege, of course, uses the Sakura trees in full bloom in the panel above (cut off) as well as Sakura blossoms raining down on Yorozu and Sukuna--a trope commonly used to emphasize the ephemeral nature of beauty that can also evoke romantic undertones.

If you’ve ever had the privilege of visiting Japan during Hanami season and gotten to see Sakura blossoms falling, its undeniable how poetic and beautiful such a mundane spectacle is.

But, just as I am exploring the darker side of love in this ramble, you can be sure there is shadow side to the Sakura trees. 

What if there was a more sinister reason as to why the cherry blossoms are pink?

Just the way Gege is exploring corrupted and twisted love through Yorozu, In Tokyo Babylon, CLAMP uses cherry blossoms as a corrupted symbol of love--tainted love that corrupts (cue Marilyn Manson’s version of Tainted Love).

Sometimes I feel I've got to run away I've got to get away From the pain you drive into the heart of me

Once I ran to you (I ran) Now I run from you This tainted love you've given

That's what I meant when I shared how I would have liked to see what it means for the King of Curses, Sukuna, to “love” or have a one-sided crush. Basically I headcanon Sukuna’s love language is inflicting pain.

But Sukuna isn’t necessarily running from Yorozu because he’s not digging the pain she dishes with her tainted love but more because... well... she’s so delusional she annoys him. I can see why Kenny asked Sukuna why he’d go see her.

But since Yorozu is the one dishing pain with her tainted love, I loved that her love language is basically to die in the name of the Beloved--whether she’s the one who dies or its Sukuna.

In German, liebstod is a word for a kind of love that is so unreal and so Divine, that it can only be achieved in death.

“I want you to be the one to kill me...

I want you to be the one who hurts me...

... as the ultimate expression of my love for you.”

crazy bitch I love her

To quote Jungian Analyst, Jim Hollis, “to love the Other, with all the Other’s presumed power to hurt us, requires a substantial amplitude of soul, an enlargement of one’s sense of self”.

Not me using a quote from Dr. Hollis to write about JJK because he talks about the sense of self.

After all, is there a greater form of showing one’s devotion for the Beloved than by baring our bleeding heart and offering it on a silver platter to say “I trust you”? that or maybe I’m just twisted af too. like... is that why I'm still single? bahaha

Absolute love corrupts absolutely.

The Demon Lover

There’s also something to be said about how Yorozu’s tainted love is also a reflection of her psychoemotional development as an individual--which is an interesting thing to say given her vessel is a teenager with a history of childhood neglect and abandonment.

Now, part of what is so comical about Yorozu is that everything from her reactions, her behavior, and her obsession with Sukuna are, quite literally, so infantile.

That’s because Yorozu’s love appears to be stuck in a level of ego development that objectifies the “object of her affection”, Sukuna, and sees it as something to be claimed and owned. She sees it as her duty to the Beloved to subdue him with her power.

Ironically, as Jung himself used to say, “where love rules, there is no will to power; and where power predominates, there love is lacking. The one is the shadow of the other.”

Jungian Analyst, John Haule further tells us that “the goal of love appears to be nothing less than a loss of ego.”

He adds that the Demon Lover archetype is often constellated in romantic relationships when the lover lacks the psychoemotional maturity to see the delusions caused by the love potion as a projection of one’s shadow onto the Beloved.

Instead, we are invited to consider that this kind of love is more like an addiction.

Or in the words of Børns’ Electric Love...

Drown me (drown me), you make my heart beat like the rain Surround me (oh), hold me deep beneath your waves

Baby, you're like lightning in a bottle I can't let you go now that I got it And all I need is to be struck By your electric love

Which, thematically, is so perfect for a story like Jujutsu Kaisen where selfishly prioritizing satisfying the hedonistic and fleeting desires of the ego sense of self is what drives the strongest sorcerers.

crazy bitch I LOVE HER BECAUSE SHE’S SO RELATABLE AF!

Thank you if you’ve made it this far. 

I hope you have a cursed lovey-dovey JJK-Sunday!

[nyoheadcannonsaph]

Axis Powers [expanded] Human Names ( + my reasons for them)

Here we go with the Axis countries' human names! I did some reseach, but again, as before, I believe we can agree to disagree, if you don't like my takes. Also, I'm using the last names from their male counterparts for the sake of integrity (like, if we had two Italies and the male had not-so-Italian last name that Hima invented for him, and then a female version with a more appropriate name, it would get a bit confusing, right?). I don't see them as family, but hey, they are one and the same country, we can't go too crazy with that.

Still, feel free to use any names you prefer. In this particular post there will be a lot of defense of Hima's choices, so brace yourselves. I really think he worked over the Axis characters long and thoroughly enough to make up his mind and some of his impressions were more correct than you could see it at face value.

So let's look at the names, shall we?

May the united powers of pasta, sake and wurst be with you!

Germany (West) - Nyoitsu/Doiko

Monika Beilschmidt

I don't think it's a perfect name, but it's not bad either. I originally thought of leaving Nyo!Germany as Louise/Luise, but since I don't like copying male names for female characters, even in genderbend, I opted for Monika and found some good grounds for it. It is after all a name of the mother of St Augustine, a woman mostly known for patience and determination in her prayers, which are somewhat related to Nyo!Germany's character. Furthermore, the actual meaning of the name is lost to history, but it was associated with Latin word "moneo", which translates to "advisor; I advise" and Greek "monos", meaning "one". "One advise", is kind of reflective of a line in "I am German-made" about reading each word of the manual (yes, songs are part of canon too, and I will take it as such). So ethymology-wise, it makes sense for Nyo!Germany. Weird fun fact: in 1937 there was a premiere in Stuttgart of an operetta under the title "Monika", composed by an Austrian composer. Not sure if that is related to Hima's choice, but I thought it's worth mentioning.

I also believe that in her youth (*cough* as HRE *cough*) she used other names, probably "Luise", or "Greta/Gretchen" in order not to clash with Nyo!Prussia at the time. She certainly used different aliases, as she's usually seen with her earpiece on, suggesting she works in intelligence during wartime. I can imagine her as a spy, but more of a communicator than actual secret agent. They still use aliases, don't they?

Italy (North) - Veneziano - Itako

Alice Vargas

I can hear some Italian purists coming over to say this is by no means Italian name, only italianised one. Well, yes, but let me tell you what: North Italy shares more culturally with Switzerland and Austria than it does with Southern Italy. If you happened to watch Hetafacts, you probably know some theory behind it, but if you don't, then let me put it like this: Northern Italian kingdoms were much mostly founded by barbarians "from the North"... Yeah, kind of like Papa Germania got busy with supposedly Grandpa Rome's daughter and "dot dot dot" (forgive that "Mamma mia" reference, I just had to). I mean, North Italy is still very Italian, she interited Grandpa's (or Grandma's?) Rome talent for arts and most of his (hers?) architectural wonders. But it would make sense to have a more Germanic name by origins.

Ethymology: it comes from Proto-Germanic roots, "aþala-", meaning "noble" and "haidu-", meaning "appearance; kind", and it was originally "Adeleide" - a name that young Nyo!Italy could be using, especially when living with Nyo!Austria and Nyo!HRE (I mean, you know who that actually was, but shh). Likely, during the renaissance and later times, she used different names, as I imagine she was very involved with the trade of antique sculptures and so she needed to use various aliases; she also was known to meddle in political affairs, much more than her male counterpart (especially between Turkey and Venice matters), so she used names like "Caterina", "Felicità" or "Margherita", among others. Still, around the end of 19th century, she came back to her original name, using the italianised, shorter version of it, as "Alice" ("Ah-lee-che", for all English natives, who read it as "Ah-lys"; I see you in your sleep and I'm not even Italian myself).

Italy (South) - Romana/Lovina

Chiara Vargas

First of all, that's the name Hima gave and for one of the few times I can wholeheartedly agree with his choices here. Secondly, it's the Italian form of the name "Clara", which derives from "clarus" in Latin, which in turn means "clear, bright", but also "famous, well-known". Well, that's ironic, if that's the name of Southern Italy and not the Northern one, isn't it? After all, South Italy often complains about being in the shade of her Northern sister - I think she would choose a wishful name, honestly, hoping to highlight her individuality even more. Finally, she's described by Hima as having a "strong image", which can be interpreted as "appearing to have a strong personality" - a very clear one, if I may say so.

I just love everything about this name, it suits her character and makes sense. If she ever used any other name than this one, I believe it could be "Marìa", "Giuvanna" or "Càrmina", all of which are Sicilian-Neapolitan forms of other popular Italian names (the last one is from Spanish one, "Carmen", obviously). By the way, "Ciara" is also correct spelling in the South, as far as I know, but correct me if I'm wrong.

Japan - Nichiko/Nihoko

Honda Sakura --- 本田 桜

Here I must say I can imagine "Sakura" being Nyo!Japan's human name since forever. The fact that the country takes pride in everything related to cherry blossom and the Hanami season pretty much kicks off the school year over there speaks for itself. Interestingly, Himaruya was thinking of names like "Mameko" (豆子) , meaning something like "bean" and "child" combined together, and "Ponko" (I'm not sure, how to write it in kanji, I only know a bit katakana and hiragana, so there goes what I came up with: ぽん子), which common feature is that they are both ending with "-ko" syllable, which in Japanese is associated with more feminine names (and I put the Japanese names for Nyo!Country names here, you can see the pattern there too.) So I suppose the only thing he thought about Nyo!Japan is that she's like regular Japan, but a girl. I can't come up with anything more Japanese and more iconic feminine name in this language than Sakura, so I stick with that.

If I were to comd with other names, I would go for something like "Akira" (明), which means "bright", or "Haruka" (遥), meaning "remote, distant", anything that describes more of Nyo!Japan's character.

Prussia - Germany (East) - Puroiko (?)

Maria/Luisa/Julia Beilschmidt

Okay, I know some people like to use "Maria" for 2p!Nyo!Prussia, and some of you will be confused why I didn't put "Julchen" instead of "Julia". Well, there's a good reason for both. "Maria" would likely be the name Nyo!Prussia would use as part of the Teutonic Order, and while 2p!Nyo!Prussia seems to embody that peried of Prussian history, I think it is more likely that during that time, Nyo!Prussia was acting more "feminine", you know, emobodying the more diplomatic side of the order compared to her male counterpart. Also, one of the names the Teutonic Knights used was "Marienritter", meaning literally "(St) Mary's Knights".

Upon the conversion of the order's Grand Master, Albert of Brandenburg, to Luteranism in 1525, Maria changed name to "Luisa", which was a common name in Northern and Central Germany at the time. There's a famous character she shared that name, Queen Luise of Prussia, of whom Napoleon spoke in high regards ever since meeting her in person (just so you know, she was pretty smart and badass). Finally, as she was separated from her sister, Nyo!Germany, she started to use "Julia", with the diminutive of "Julchen" ("-chen" is a form of endearment, like "small Julia" in this context) to differentiate it from more typically Slavic-sounding "Julia". It's still very popular name in Germany now, so I imagine it being the final version as for now (not like Prussia exists XD Sorry, I had to, I got Polish-Prussian heritage, so I can make that joke).

[shitpostingkats]

Crack Theory: Jaden Yuki is (at least partially) Atlantian

As usual, this is 100% my own connection making brain going crazy, I doubt this is what the writers intended, if they thought about it at all. Also, this essay is not free of infodumping or absurdity. 

So, Atlantis has always been... kinda weird, in yugioh. Other than just the absolute wildness of it just. Canonically existing. The Waking the Dragons arc has some of the most far reaching lore implications for the franchise as a whole, introducing ideas like the spirit world, duel monsters appearing in history (outside of egypt lol), and some major afterlife magic. Things that yugioh will expand on in following series, and things that were, I reiterate, introduced in a throwaway filler arc of the anime because they had run out of manga to adapt. 

But one character in particular not just builds on the concepts introduced in DM’s Atlantis season, but shares some interesting similarities with the main villain of that season, Dartz.

Jaden Yuki.

The first thing that caught my attention was the eyes. While yugioh has an almost ridiculous number of characters with magical eyeballs, heterochromia with one turquoise, one orange/yellow? Incredibly specific. I can’t think of a single yugioh character whose weird eye horror even passingly resembles anothers, yet here Jaden and Dartz are. Even further, both of them spend time serving as a “king” with pure gold eyes, before coming into contact with a foreign entity and developing the bilateral asymmetry. 

But Jaden’s eyes are based on Yubels, and more thematically, the colors of the polymerization card art. And Dartz’s seem to be just a random anime villain power up. 

Let’s put a pin in this for now.

The next weird link between the two is in the strange flashback we see at the very end of GX season 3. Jaden sees one of his past lives, when Yubel pledged themselves to be his guardian. In this era, Jaden is the young prince of a vague and never named kingdom. When was this? Where? We don’t know.

But the few characters we see share some interesting design elements with the people of Atlantis.

The primary front skirt panel being this narrow rectangle ending in a point at the end. The gold crown featuring a solid band with a diamond shaped piece right over the forehead embedded with a bright red gem. These capes and the big round brooch thingies. Jaden’s father’s belt has this segmented gold design that looks quite a bit like the necklace of the Atlantian king. (His granddaughter, Kris, has a similar one, I was just running out of space for references.) In fact, both Jaden’s father and the Atlantian king use red gems as their primary design element.

And finally, the biggest detail I want to point out is this little gemstone on human!Yubel’s forehead. Crowns are a pretty universal thing, but a delicate little jewel right on the forehead? That’s an iconic piece of jewelry worn by one Dartz Yugioh. It’s also worth noting, Jaden supreme king armor has the same blue diamond on its forehead. 

Now, before I tie this all together, let me take a quick aside to reassure that yes, I am aware, this sounds like the furthest reach I could possibly make. Sure, the two kingdoms might share some design elements, if you squint. Yeah, Jaden and Yubel might each have one weird feature that Dartz also flaunts. But really, is that enough to posit a connection between the two?

I mean, absolutely, I’ve built fan theories on far less and I WILL DO IT AGAIN

But no. Here’s the plot twist of this post: 

I’m not trying to prove that past!Jaden was the prince of Atlantis.  

Past!Jaden was the prince of New Atlantis.

All right buckle up kids it’s time for me to pull out the thumbtacks and red string also yes this essay is only 50% crack theory and 50% me wanting to infodump about mythology and historical dress. 

Now, ygo Atlantis is based on the “real” Atlantis described by Plato in a trio of his allegorical dialogues, wherein he invents a fictitious evil island nation and then recounts how the ancient Athenians singlehandedly stopped them from invading the known world. And ygo Atlantis actually references parts of the texts and uses some neat Atlantis details that I never see anyone else get right. For one, the three dragons, Timaeus, Critias, and Hermos, are named after the three chapters of the dialogue. Though Hermos is shortened from Hermocrates, but it means someone on the writing team gave at least a passing glance to the source material. Secondly, the layout of the city uses the concentric ring design laid out by Plato.

“-dwelt into a palace and enclosed it with three circular moats of increasing width, varying from one to three stadia and separated by rings of land proportional in size. The Atlanteans then built bridges northward from the mountain, making a route to the rest of the island. They dug a great canal to the sea, and alongside the bridges carved tunnels into the rings of rock so that ships could pass into the city around the mountain”

 Thirdly, (and this is my favorite) Atlantis itself does not resemble grecian architecture. It is SO easy for writers using Atlantis as a cool fantasy location to just slap some marble pillars on it and call it a day. But while we are getting the dialogue from Plato, and the text states that they encountered hellenistic Greeks, doesn’t automatically make them one in the same. In fact, in the text itself, we are assured that all of the proper nouns are being translated from their original records. And where did these fictitious records come from, you might ask?

Egypt!

So yeah, props to the ygo writers for actually using a fantasy civilization that has legitimate ties to Egypt in their dm filler arc. And it would in fact make sense for Dartz to be in Egypt 5-3,000 years ago, since he would be the one of the only survivors of his kingdom and as such any records that survived would have to have come from him.

I’m getting distracted. Back to Jaden.

While Jaden’s kingdom shares some similarities with the Atlantians, there’s a much stronger historical inspiration at play here.

Greeks.

Specifically, some of the modern perceptions of Spartans. 

The Atlantian long robe retains the shape of the front panel, but it’s been cut short at the knee to form a sort of pteruges (that armored skirt made from strips of leather). They maintain the shape of the Atlantian cap sleeves, but instead of cloth they have been made into bronze pauldrons. The capes, in particular, have now taken on the form of a chalamys, the iconic cloak of ancient Greek military attire. 

We even see some ancient Greeks in capsule monsters, further cementing that Jaden’s people are very much similar, but not quite. They’ve still got some Atlantian flourishes that set them apart. 

And see those capes I can’t shut up about? 

The Atlantians fastened theirs with two big round gemstones, one on each shoulder.

Historically, and in yugioh, Greek military fastened theirs at the right shoulder, using what archeologists like to call a fibula brooch.

And Jaden’s people fasten their cloaks on the left, using that ancient Atlantian gem. 

Do we have enough evidence to even begin to guess what happened to the citizens after Atlantis sank into the ocean? No. But here’s my theory.

Atlantis, an enormous empire, crumbles. Its people were decimated by war and tragedy. A surviving group slowly migrates to Greece, either willingly or through the Athenian conquest. They take refuge with another famous enemy of the Athenians, the Spartans. They slowly assimilate with the city state, blending the two cultures together, but the Atlantian citizens still delineate themselves in small ways through fashion and political influence. These people know of duel monsters, but are hesitant to share that knowledge, fresh on the heels of the spirit war. Orichalcos is rare, coveted, and nowhere near as pure as the stones once used all throughout their city. But it still exists. And some learned few still know how to use it.

Remember Dartz’s forehead jewel? It’s not just a fashion statement, it’s actually a chunk of orichalcos. And remember who else I said had one?

I mean, we’ve seen from flashbacks what overexposure to this stone when paired with the right magicks can do, right? It turns people into monsters.

And it’s not like we have a magic artifact that is literally called the eye of orichalcum. Or even that both these stories strongly feature a mysterious red rock falling from the sky and heralding the forthcoming evil.

Huh. 

This leads to my final piece of evidence:

Anyways, yugioh fanworks should use that fact that Atlantis 100% existed in the ygo world, as well as has been apparently rebuilt/succeeded into a major city, more often. Also, from now on I will be headcanoning Jaden as half Atlantian. Because I can. <3

[chironshorseass]

You’re my favorite person for when it comes to Powerful!Percy (your thing about Percy’s fight with Hyperion is chef’s kiss), so I was wondering what your thoughts were on Percy blowing up Mt. Saint Helen’s on accident. He really did cause a quarter million to be evacuated and almost destroyed the Northwest United States unintentionally. I Stan.

thank you!! i’m glad you like my takes because apparently everyone gets brain rot from them and we love that 💅

i’ve said this mainly in my take about hyperion but i also mention it in the one about percy fearing water, and my initial post, that i headcanon or more so i point out how percy is the ocean.

and for the mt. saint helen thing...it’s so crazy that so many of percy’s most important moments when it comes to his powers have been on accident. or, well...it’s more so that that’s how it looks like. because rereading that scene again, he kind of knew what he was doing. at least, he willingly unleashed the power that potentially created an exploding volcano.

this was one of those moments when he realizes just how much he’s capable of. the sea is inside him. all he had to do was let go. and that’s exactly what he did. so yeah, ok this time i checked, and THIS confirms my entire theory and i am losing my mind bc why do ppl not talk about this:

(this is, in context, the part where percy has to clean the stables in that ranch and talks to the naiad of the river nearby who gives him some advice)

and this naiad literally compares herself to percy. she says, “the water is within me. it is my life source.” and then proceeds to become part of the river itself. like hey!!! what if percy could do that??

and hey???? what if he did? what if he became actual water at some point?

and examining the scene of when he blows up the volcano, this is what happens:

in that moment of panic, of helplessness, he calls to the sea. he searches deep within himself. because this is what the naiad told him, which is what i’ve been saying this entire damn time!!!

and here’s the best part, which is where i’m coming from, saying that he became the water itself. at least in my interpretation:

“I shot upward from the heart of the volcano in a huge explosion, just one piece of flotsam thrown free by a million pounds of pressure.”

and we could infer that he was just thrown up in the air like trash, but i think it’s more than that. the sea is within me. again, this is what he literally says. it is CANON that he unleashed the raw, PURE power of the ocean. he became the ocean. he was part of that water mixing with the lava—because he is the ocean.

which is another thing, people debate that this is one of the only times percy demonstrates that he can cause an earthquake, and...i unfortunately have to disagree. don’t get me wrong, i love the idea of percy having dominion over the earth and totally accept it as canon with my whole heart, but it isn’t what happened here. this explosion happened because an enormous amount of water created enough pressure to make a fucking volcano explode.

and how can anyone do that if their life source wasn’t linked to the sea? how could he summon that water? that strength? because that’s what he did: he SUMMONED WATER in the middle of a VOLCANO!!! and then he proceeded to merge himself with said water. this actually reminds me of nico di angelo’s case, because he can become a literal shadow. i’m pretty sure there was this whole thing in boo where he’s kind of permanently becoming part of the darkness. so why not percy? why not have him be like that naiad, who’s life source comes from water? that’s basically what’s going on here.

and i am also considering this as a fact (yes, yes it is), because when he arrives at calypso’s island, he is on death’s door. just like nico was when he first shadow traveled. of course, there’s the part where he was thrown off the face of the earth and nearly burned alive, BUT that wasn’t his problem at all!! because leo was also thrown into ogygia, and he wasn’t in such horrible shape. the burns shouldn’t have hindered him as much, because he is still poseidon’s son—and besides, when he summoned that water, it should have healed him to some degree. no no no, he nearly died because of the way that he almost burned himself out, nearly wasted his entire life source, poured it all out into that volcano and just. became water himself. THAT’S what happened. THAT’S why hephaestus was like, “you don’t know your own strength.”

this is just the tip of the iceberg. who knows how much the ocean affects percy and how much he can affect it. would his mood change with the tides? with a storm? and what if he tries this again? what if he tries this unleashing of his own self? what if he tries to melt into water, just to see how it goes? can he willingly do it, or would that cost him just as much as that time in mt. saint helens? WHEN, i repeat WHEN are we going to see this again??? but no, we won’t see this again. rick didn’t give it to us and he never will, so i have to do all the dirty work😤

[animefreak1145]

The Irony of Adler and Bell

Call of Duty: Black Ops Analysis of Adler’s Brainwashing

It’s me again. And I’m here with another analysis! This time based solely around Adler. It’s always about Adler. But also Bell.

And this is about the brainwashing of not Bell, but Adler.

We have all had our theories since we first saw Adler getting tortured in the Cinematic Warzone Trailers, shown in Season 3 of COD:BOCW. Our suspicions growing when we see Sus Adler™️ doing what he does best in Season 4 by stealing an important looking chip within the crashed satellite that was taken down. (Also, Hudson, what is wrong with you letting Adler be cleared for a mission when he was just rescued like two weeks ago?!)

And although we did not see him in Season 5, we can all gather that anyone could be potentially brainwashed if you have a certain brand of earpiece. (Woods and Stryker appeared unaffected despite having their own earpieces). So the naive hope and calming words to others that Adler being different and strong is out the window. All it takes is hearing the numbers. What do the numbers mean, Mason?

Besides Bell wasn’t your average run of the mill agent either. An amazing decoder and created codes(I am with the theory that Bell did create the codes for Perseus that we have to decrypt in the game for Operation Chaos and Red Circus) with a brutal close combat skill as well as charming based on how one could talk to everyone and be a social butterfly. Also, able to handle and withstand torture after one hour of leaving Cuba despite previous injuries AND be able to go to Solovetsky/Duga and able to aim and shoot despite having a needle shoved in their eye a few hours earlier.

Bell had crazy skills. Just like Adler does. Bell was brainwashed. So is Adler.

Confirmed with this bundle that will be released. Thank you to @reclaimedbythesea who first found it and pointed it out.

We have the confirmation—the amazing, horrible, war criminal man we all love has become an agent of the man who he swore to chase down and capture/kill for longer than a decade. (Adler said thirteen years in COD:BOCW universe, so 1984 it would be sixteen years. Sheesh. Correct me if I’m wrong. I may be mistaken.) Is it wrong I kinda find it funny? Especially since he did the same thing to Bell—believing it to be necessary. Just as Stitch I’m sure finds it necessary.

It’s just a big brainwash back and forth between these two countries, a race to see who has the most mindless agents on their side in the end. But we’re not focusing on that.

We’re focusing on how Adler’s karma finally caught up to him with all his war crimes. We can infer that he hasn’t just done a cruel action like that to Bell, but to others. “Whatever it takes.” That’s his motto. He’s messed up other’s lives—hundreds, maybe even thousands. The Vietnam War has a deep dirty history, such as the real operation of Fracture Jaw, Operation Ranch Hand with the use of Agent Orange, the Mai(My) Lai Massacre and who knows how many other operations that would/did affect civilians. Not that I would see Adler doing anything like the massacre, but you can’t expect me to not believe that he may have been involved with Agent Orange somewhat? And who knows what other operations and missions he’s done as a CIA agent after the war?

My point is, the man has been gathering karma for awhile. Not just with Bell(I am aware he had his orders in the war, I’m just saying I’m not sure if he feels much guilt about some said orders. Guilt I believe he may has, but I’m not sure it’s a high degree.) Of course, Bell isn’t a saint either. They were willing to kill millions with Perseus after all. A wayyyy higher body count than Adler. And who knows what Bell did with Perseus even before the Greenlight plan? Didn’t seem to mind millions blinking in an eye, so must be pretty cold or delusional about the whole free world killing their country thing. Thank you @yunatheintrovert for this post pointing out and showing a hint of just how not good a person Bell was.

I’m not going to say they deserved what happened to them due to Adler. I feel for Bell. I really do. Just like I can’t say if Adler deserves it for everything—just can’t say that because I’m not at liberty to judge other’s actions and claim what is deserved and undeserved. Leave that to judges.

But now I’m going to point out certain things—other things. Such as what I think to be Adler’s “new” name. At least to those in the Perseus Collective/Stitch.

Do I realize that “Cipher” may just be what this awesome skin is called? Yes. Will I rather ignore it and rant about the name for two ten minutes? Also yes.

On to the analysis!

ci·pher/ˈsīfər/: a secret or disguised way of writing; a code.

This first definition is what we can all gather of what the numbers represent—the code and simultaneously the key of brainwashing others in earpieces with just a certain order of number together.

Stitch and co. used said numbers on Adler, so why not call him Cipher? The Code? Funny, cause he killed Bell—the Decoder. Maybe Bell would’ve helped him out if he didn’t kill them.

Another hammer to the irony of between these two.

But no. The name gets better. Second definition!

ci·pher /ˈsīfər/: a person or thing of no importance, especially a person who does the bidding of others and seems to have no will of their own.

PAHAHAHAHAHA! *clears throat* Now, this, this is what I think Stitch calls some true vengeance. Not only did he get to torture the man who did the same to him before, but made Adler a shadow of who he was before. A husk. Nothing really there. “Whatever it takes” indeed but for the opposite side now—a puppet with numbers for strings. Stitch did a good job in naming Cipher—I mean Adler. We don’t even know how far Adler shall go now, will the CIA have to kill him or will they be able to recondition him when/if they capture him? Will he even be the same? Nope.

Why do I find that definition funny? Well, I think Adler had a multitude of reasons for naming Bell, Bell. Just like Stitch did with Adler. And not just the obvious reasons of him ringing the bell at them to condition them as he was torturing/brainwashing them(we love Pavlov!). Let’s get the first definition out the way.

bell /bel/: a hollow object, typically made of metal and having the shape of a deep inverted cup widening at the lip, that sounds a clear musical note when struck, typically by means of a clapper inside.

I wonder if anyone knows where I’m going with this or I’m starting to seem like a madwoman.

I’m going to ask you guys to focus on the word, “hollow” for me. Hollow, as in not filled. There’s something in the bell alright, but it doesn’t do enough to fill out the hole does it? Like Cipher is now made a husk. Bell was made hollow—only a little bit filled with the little memory they got back before they were killed(maybe they weren’t, let’s just go with it for now). Or perhaps just a bit filled with false memories of Vietnam, of camaraderie. I doubt Stitch did anything like that.

Also, Bell is just an instrument for someone else to play. Play the right tune, and the Russian agent will do anything for you. Right, Adler?

Cipher is the puppet, just doing what he’s told when they give the orders. No will or thought. Just how Stitch likes it.

I’m not done yet! Second definition!

bell /bel/: a. A stroke on a hollow metal instrument to mark the hour.

b. The time indicated by the striking of this instrument, divided into half hours.

Another play on words of Bell being struck(jabbed with needles) to do what needs to be done. But it also represents the limited time that Bell has. Bell needs to help to stop Perseus and quick, Adler will make them go faster if needed by putting the highest dosage as possible without killing them to accomplish it. Or maybe it’s also a representation that Bell does actually have limited time left—Park did say MK—Ultra will be hard on the body physically and mentally. Perhaps MK-Ultra was slowly killing us and Adler just decided to give us a mercy kill while he was at it as he “tied up our strings.”( @cryinginthebackseat does point this out in their Adler/Bell story, go check it out!)

Let’s focus on the instrument thing again though, but back to Cipher. The third definition!

ci·pher /ˈsīfər/ : a continuous sounding of an organ pipe, caused by a mechanical defect.

Oh man. Sounds like Adler is being played like an instrument too, continuously due to all the numbers and how the numbers can be everywhere if one is in the armed forces since they all use earpieces. Interesting shape too, a pipe. Long and thin and has two holes, a beginning and an end but which one is the top or the bottom? The beginning and the end? We don’t know how far Adler will go like this—as Cipher. It will eventually come to a point, where something squeezes within the pipe and manages to get out. Maybe. Or maybe Adler is just forever defected, like the definition suggests.

Not quite Adler anymore and just Cipher.

Just like Bell will always just be Bell. The other self practically gone.

It seems these two will always somehow reflect and affect one another, whether one is dead or not.

I swear I love Adler, so don’t mind some of my dark humor about him and this situation he’s in. It is pretty funny. At least to me. Stitch is funny. And petty.

Hope you guys enjoyed!

@salvija @smokeywhalee @quizzyisdone @efingart @samatedeansbroccoli @weirdoartist21 @tr1ppylady

[redxblueihateloveyou]

I doubt that kyoani would choose to deliberately end this franchise that’s become such a big, important thing in a bad/ underwhelming way. In a way that disappoints us all. I mean, they clearly learned from S3, right? Or do you think they’ll choose to end it in a loose/bad end just for shock value? Like genuinely, I want to believe they’ll stick to the friendship/love premise that’s been the core of free! since forever. Do you believe they will solve this in a satisfactory way? What would be the worst outcome? How can they solve this without going bl? Will they solve it half-heartedly??? Will they meet out expectations?? Will they let us down??? I’ve been going crazy for the past days trying to come up with ANSWERS but is there a way to know?🥲

Nah, I don't think it's possible for them to end it in a bad or unsatisfying way. Each rinharu angsty bomb at the end always follows up with even more intense happy ending one like 1x12 and 2x12. It's how they go. And the new angst bomb is a result of combination of all rinharu angst throuhout the whole story since the very beginning, so I can't tell how excited I am about the next movie O_O

I honestly don't ever remember any conflict in free resolving in unsatisfying way ever. We don't like s3 bc Ikuya's storyline was a repetitive soup and bc because of this we just didn't move anywhere plotwise and thus everyone was mad, but it once again didn't harm rinharu in any way. We also weren't used to this kind of plot distribution you see. Apparently Hiyori's words, opening credits with Rin leaving and Haru on the rails, Haru being so upset after Rin jumping in like "yo" and his whole reaction that was all them planting more seeds for the main rinharu boom-boom that this movie ended with and the resolve you'll see in the next one. So they're just using rinharu as a carrot here.

Literally everything what was happening rn, I was expecting in s3, bc of the opening too, when they showed him hurting over Rin leaving and Haru's eyes lit up and he destroyed the pool.

That was when and why I wrote this scene in the first place, bc I thought he would yell at him about leaving and coming back without a word in 3x10, but you see I underrestimated his control xD. It's just so funny bc I remeber how I was grasping on straws after everyone was upset about 3x10, I wrote an analisys of this scene right after the episode, how he's just tired of him leaving and then jumping in like no biggie, thats why he looks so upset and angry in that scene:

and I just trashed them by saying that "if I wrote fanfiction, I would suggest this reason for him being so upset, but thats not gonna happen with writers like this". And turns out they planned the fafiction all along lmaaooooo (I'm real sorry, free creators, I'm sorry)

I then wrote "He just doesn’t want to soften up in case Rin leaves again… shut up, let me dream." and made this vid LOL SCORE.

I suggest to look at it like 3x01, 3x03, 3x09-3x12 is the first five episodes of the season, the first movie is the usual mess thats happening from ep 6 to 9 or smth and the finale is gonna be the second part of the movie. But kudos to them for the fact, that they indeed planned it all along, I just thought that my theory in s3 was too fanfiction-y and that was just my rinharu crazed brain, but then again they always were the best fanfiction, so I don't even know why I'm so surprised. It's just really funny that it was indeed exactly that.

So my point is, if that was really their intention all along, since its the only reason s3 opening along with everything that was happening makes true sense, then I have no doubt it's gonna come together very nicely at the end. I mean, all elements are in place, there's a reason sakura doesn't bloom now and we're there again, the set up is perfect, you can hardly back out from what Haru said now and it's just Rin related, not about friends or swimming really. As for bl or not, I mean, to me it always was their love story even without this label. I don't think they'll make them kiss or anything, but they always write them so good that they give me the amount of feels that most bl won't give me. I'm pretty sure Haru hugging him paralleled to s1 finale and blooming sakura will be included as for the rest, I have my wild scenarios ready, yes. But my point is I don't think they'd disappoint us, no.

I just honestly think they should've either wait and put this all in one season or make Ikuya story separetely, bc the way s3 was was like if s1 ended with ep5 or smth. We're just used to our usual emotional rinharu drama, emotional rinharu resolve during the season that we didn't quite get wtf was s3 haha. I just remember how we didn't get why Hiyori thing wasn't adressed and what is even going on and why Haru is like that during the reunion and what opening has to do with anything if he didn't have any outburst. Here it is. Why they split it like this idk. Worst decision ever. I mean, ppl were sooooooooo mad.

Ah, good job tho, so happy about their box office record, well deserved. That was good promotion with the Road to the World, trailer and everything *wink wink*.

[chazukekani]

Previous // Next

Summary for Code:03 is here! I hope you guys will enjoy (spoilers, not really!)

Recap: Murase-officer was killed by Verlaine, so Chuuya and Adam were going to find out why he had become Verlaine's target.

From the blue mobile phone acquired from Murase-officer's pocket, Adam believed that the phone was not the original but got replaced by someone, and hence Adam inferred that Verlaine was the one who did this in order to wiretap his call, and Adam was able to get the recording of the final call on Murase-officer's phone.

'It's me, brother,' that's the voice of Murase-officer.

'The gravity guy is here, just like what you said. Wait! There is one more person! Who is this? What's his relationship with Chuuya! Call me when you hear this!" and that's the end of the call.

This recording took place shortly after Verlaine invaded the police station.

'That's very interesting,' Adam was sure about something, 'With reference to my record, his brother was supposed to be dead already.'

Murase-officer's brother, was dead in April 14 years ago. He died in an accident while conducting an experiment. His name was not on the official record, nor there was any photograph of his appearance, so let's call him N for now.

'Officer-san's brother, participated in the research of Arahabaki?' Chuuya said.

The creator of Arahabaki...? Adam could not handle such surprise in his mind. The trio (Chuuya, Adam and Shirase) continue to deduce the hints they have. They supposed N was probably the only survivor as all scientists were dead during one explosion of the experiment. Now they know, Verlaine's next target was N because he was the only one left who knew the secrets behind Chuuya. Henceforth, they have to find N now.

'Hey, you...' Shirase looked at Adam with a terrified face as if seeing a ghost. Adam was confused, but the next second he realised, that was Adam himself talking.

'I am the one who needs your help,' Adam's mouth moved, 'Adversely, you need my help too. I am the one whom you called N.' The man who called N hacked into Adam and delivered this message.

'I can no longer speak to you in such a way, come here, I want to meet you. I will leave the address in this machine.'

'Hey, wait. Meet us? What do you know?' said Chuuya

'Everything, Chuuya. Everything about you.' that voice spoke as if a god with a very calm voice, 'I am looking forward to meet you,' and the connection was lost.

-

They have arrived at their destination. It was a huge and broad place underground, as big as a tennis court, and there were firewalls built  in the surrounding with guards guarding the front gate. Chuuya, Adam and Shirase were stopped by the guards and demanded to do a blood check before they could proceed for security purposes, but of course, Adam was spared from it.

After finishing the check, they finally saw N. That person that stood in front of them, was exactly the one who stood next to Chuuya in the picture that the Flags gave him.

'I am the director of the Arahabaki Project. The military named me as N because this is the initial of Nakahara.'

'I am your father.'

-

'What do you think ability is?' The group were in a corridor of the facility.

'We, researchers, frankly speaking, don't really know what ability is. How embarrassing,' N proceeded.

But there were few things that were confirmed. Other forms of life apart from humans, such as animals or plants, are not able to possess ability. Also, when the human dies, the ability that he has will together vanish from this world. Every ability has a maximum of output of power, and the military wanted to know so badly how we could break the limits. Yes, there is a way to break the limit, and that's called ability singularity. This is a phenomenon that occurred as a result of two or more contradicting abilities interfering with each other. Which means usually it requires at least two ability users to create such a phenomenon.

However, there is one type of ability user that is able to create an ability singularity on his own. They are able to do so because their ability itself consists of theoretical contradiction. The first person who discovered this was a German scientist, and he named this type of ability 'self-contradicting ability'. To be precise, this ability allows the user to amplify the output of their own ability. Since the user can continue amplifying the power of their own ability, it gives them an unlimited source of power, which breaks through the limit of ability. However, this user also needs to take the risk because once they are granted infinite power, the high density of the energy will create a distortion in space and collapse it into a gravity vortex, and can never go back.

There was an intense competition between Germany, France and Britain on investigating this subject. Since Japan was the ally of Germany, Japan also acquired various techniques and reports regarding this topic. Since most of the countries were running out of resources by the end of the war, they were eager to take theories into practice, and the most advanced country on this topic was France. They successfully weaponised ability singularity, and they found out that the most effective way to control it was heart, in other words, the human's soul. Yet with such huge energy, it was afraid that ordinary humans were not capable to manage it, but ironically, only humans are capable of possessing ability. Therefore, the French scientists came up with a solution, and that is to create a homunculus with a soul, and that’s how Paul Verlaine came. Years later, the Japanese government also obtained the related information and hence proceeded to conduct a similar experiment, which later what was known as the Arahabaki Project.

-

N wanted to show Chuuya something, but it was considered top secret. So he asked Adam and Shirase to wait while he and Chuuya would go somewhere else.

While going to another room, Chuuya told N that he recognised this place. However, N told him that it was just the No.2 Laboratory which had the same design as No.1 Laboratory, and it was destroyed during the Arahabaki Project. So what Chuuya remembered was actually the environment of the No.1 Lab. Meanwhile, Chuuya recalled some of his memories in this facility. He recalled that he had been staying in darkness for a long time. Yet, he heard 'Invaders!' 'Lock area 8 and 15!' one day. He used to be inside a cradle and locked from the outside world. But that day, someone broke the cradle and a hand touched Chuuya. That's Rimbaud's hand, and next to him was Verlaine.

'You are a miracle, Chuuya,' said N.

N showed something to Chuuya, and that's a cylinder which has a size similar to Chuuya. The container was transparent, and it had some blue and black liquid kept inside it so it was quite difficult to see through.

'Who is inside!' Chuuya yelled, but N didn't say a word.

N pressed a button via a remote in his pocket, and the liquid began to drain, and Chuuya was shocked to see what appeared in front of him.

What inside the cylinder, was Chuuya.

The Chuuya inside the container had his eyes closed, and quite thin. His leg was locked by two chains respectively that linked to the bottom of the cylinder.

'May I introduce, your original,' said N.

Chuuya's jaw dropped.

Suddenly, the teen inside the cylinder was in pain, and could not breathe. He cough badly and almost had his organs cough out.

'Hey! Are you alright!' Chuuya yelled.

'No way he would be alright,' said N, 'he had his living-saving fetal aqueous solution drained after all.

Chuuya grabbed the controller from N and pressed all the buttons on it, but nothing happened. Shortly after, that teen died, and his body including his skin, flesh melted together into a blue-black liquid.

All of a sudden, Chuuya felt dizzy and fell down.

'I designed you, so I know you the best. No matter how strong you are, you are incompatible with poison,' said N. Chuuya realised that poison was injected during the blood check. He was furious and tried to punch N. Yet, a bullet hit Chuuya's forehead, and he lost his consciousness immediately.

-

On the other hand, likewise, Shirase also felt dizzy. Adam noticed Chuuya might be in trouble as well. After keeping Shirase in a safe placed, he proceed to search for Chuuya.

-

In a room of nothing, Chuuya's upper clothing was deprived, and he was bleeding. The most serious injury he had was on his chest. His hands were locked up by chains that connected to the ceiling, and electricity went through his body via this chain. Under the order of N, Chuuya was injected with midazolam, and continued being tortured.

N revealed that Chuuya was the only experimental product in the country that consisted of a safety measure - in order to activate his full ability, a spell was needed. Once Chuuya said the spell, his personality will be erased and overridden. Such that Chuuya would be free from pain and darkness. And the spell was-

'O grantors of dark disgrace, do not wake me again! I will endure my solitude, arms seemingly already useless,' N said the spells.

'O grantors of dark disgrace, do not wake me again...' Chuuya repeated after N as if an automatic robot. This was the result of the midazolam.

'Very well,' N smiled

'I will...WHO ARE YOU?' Chuuya yelled.

'Raise the power,' N ordered the assistant to give Chuuya another electric shock, and Chuuya screamed.

-

Chuuya was not in a stable state of mind. He saw different kinds of illusion. He saw Dazai, Piano Man, Albatross, Ice Man, Lippmann and Doc, and the members of sheep. He was blamed by such an illusion, and his value of existence was denied.

The last person who showed up was Verlaine.

'I will kill this researcher,' said Verlaine in Chuuya's illusion. He gave his hand out to Chuuya and said, 'come here,'

'Why...' said Chuuya

'Didn't I tell you when we first met? I am here to save you,' Verlaine replied, 'Go, my brother. Kill N and take your soul back from this crazy world.'

-

Adam was dealing with the soldiers that were attacking him. At once, a teenager showed up in front of Adam, and he's Dazai.

'Nice to meet you Mr Inspector,' Dazai greeted, and he continued, ' "Why are you here?" I believe that's what you wanna ask me. I will tell you. That's a stage of the plan. "What's the plan?" you may ask, and I will tell you, everything.'

Dazai explained that the documents that he gave to Verlaine was the information about Murase-officer, N, and everything else. The purpose behind this was to save time, because Verlaine's initial first target was Mori. Hence, by manipulating the information, Dazai can squeeze out extra time and assassinate Verlaine back.

'According to the plan, Chuuya will kill N, and will not be a human anymore. However  I want to see Chuuya as a human, so I am here to stop him,' said Dazai.

-

A fight broke out in the laboratory where Chuuya was staying, and other people were evacuated from the facility.

Chuuya had immense hatred towards N.

'W...wait! I can't help with it! It's all work! I never ever once wanted you to suffer on my own!' N cried and tried to escape from Chuuya.

'Don't listen to him Chuuya,' Verlaine showed up in the entrance.

Chuuya was holding a chain on his hand tightly, and threw it out with the speed of sound and stabbed the target: Verlaine's chest.

'W...what?'

'Didn't see that coming right, Verlaine. It's true that the researcher is harsh, but you killed Piano Man and the others after all,' Chuuya said, and the 'brothers' had a fight.

There was a mass explosion everywhere inside the room. The punches were able to create tiny suns and the gravity made the room collapse.

Amid the fight, N, who was injured nearby, yelled to Verlaine, 'If I died, you would never know your secret!'

' I am not joking, everything. Including the one you wanna know most - the Secret of the Gentle Forest,'

'How do you know this!' Verlaine shouted.

But there was no spare time for them, All of a sudden, a skeleton appeared. That's Chuuya's original, and that's what the body left after dying and melting in Chuuya's arm just now. It was connected with the tube and wearing a coat. The skeleton was under the control of N and launched attacks towards Chuuya, and he couldn't move

Shirase, who woke up and found Chuuya, surprisingly appeared and saved Chuuya by plugging out the tube from the skeleton. A while after, Adam and Dazai also found where Chuuya was. The battle was paused.

All of a sudden, the light in the room was turned off, but turned back on a few seconds afterwards. Yet, Verlaine and N were gone, and the ceilings of consecutive multiple floors above were gone as well.

Code 3 ended

[fallen-gravity]

Intellectual Adequacy

Stan hates to start any unnecessary conflict, especially when there’s a very real chance that Ford will be moving to California next year, but he knows deep down that if they don’t talk about this now then he’ll never have the courage to bring it up again.

“Wait,” Stan shouts to Ford, and he stops dead in his tracks.

~~

Notes: In which one little plot bunny that was preventing me from getting any work done becomes its own rabbit hole.

I genuinely cannot believe that in the six-seven years I've been in this fandom, I've never tried my hand at the fix-it-fic where Stan and Ford just talk it out as teenagers, just like they should've in canon. I've seen a lot of different approaches, but I feel like I've yet to see one that tackles it from the perspective of Stan's own battle with his self-worth, rather than the actions he or Ford have already taken.

AO3

Stan hates the principal’s office more than anywhere else in the world.

He swears, he’s called down every other week for something that’s not even his fault. He punched Crampelter in the nose for harassing some poor freshman? Principal’s office. He talks back to a teacher calling his classmate stupid for forgetting an “obvious” geometry equation? Principal’s office. He accidentally drops his pencil during an exam and bends over to pick it up? He must be cheating. Principal’s office.

If you asked him, the whole idea of sending kids to the principal’s office is pointless to begin with. Oh, you did something bad, and now we’re gonna make the big man in charge tell your mommy and daddy? How old do these people think they are?

Stan wishes he could say that this time is okay because they’re not even talking to him. They’re talking up a storm to Ford in there about another college scholarship and all the reasons why he and he alone would be the perfect candidate for some random school all the way out in California

But it’s not okay, because the longer Stan sits in the dumb waiting room the more he’s starting to feel like chopped liver. They’ve been in there for at least five minutes with no sign of stopping anytime soon, but every time Stan asks the secretary if he can just go back to class already she dismisses him with a wave of her hand and it’ll be your turn soon, sit back down.

He’s thinking of just sneaking out the next time the secretary buries her nose back into her magazine. It’s simple: just wait for her to pull it out from her desk, sneak by as quick as he can, and slip out the door and back to class before she can even notice he’s gone.

He stands from his chair, pretending to stretch and preparing to execute, but freezes solid when he hears his name being spoken from within the principal’s office.

“…What about our little free spirit Stanley?”

It’s Ma, and whatever it is they’re talking about in there, she isn’t happy about it. Frowning, Stan glances over at the secretary to make sure that she isn’t staring at him, and presses his ear to the office door to listen to their conversation more carefully.

The principal laughs in response. “That clown? At this rate he’ll be lucky if he graduates high school”

Stan’s taken aback by the harsh choice of words, but if he knows Ford, then he won’t just sit there and let the principal talk about him like that. He presses his ear further into the door, waiting for Ford to interrupt the principal’s rambling about how he’s never going to amount to anything with you just don’t know him like I do, or something along those lines, but it never comes.

Not a single interjection that…anything he’s saying is wrong. Not from Pa, not from Ford….and not even from Ma.

They don’t…all really believe that, right?

There has to be something else he’s missing. He bets they’re defending his honor right now, and the reason they’re not making a big scene about it is because they’re in public.

Yeah.

He’s got nothing to worry about.

He peeks into the window, expecting to see Ma glaring daggers into the principal, or Ford silently cursing him out behind his back, but what he’s met with is so much worse. Ma and Pa are exchanging warm smiles, and Ford is frantically shaking hands with the principal, beaming brighter than Stan’s ever seen in his entire life.

Matter of fact, Stan’s not sure he’s ever seen any of them look so happy in his entire life.

He’s worthless, he’ll never go anywhere, and they’re all smiling about it.

Stan’s heart drops to his stomach, and he slides to the floor to join it.

Is this some kind of cruel joke? Were they expecting him to listen in on their conversation? Is this their cruel workaround of telling him he’ll never amount to shit?

He sighs.

He stays there on the cold tiled floor for what feels like hours, contemplating all the times he’s been called dumb, or stupid, or a terrible influence on his brother. All of those times when he could brush it off just because it was coming from someone he didn’t care about.

But worthless?

Behind his back, spoken directly to people he loves, and they won’t even bother to defend him?

That one’s new, and if Stan is going to be completely honest with himself, it’s much harder to brush off his shoulders than all those other times.

Stan doesn’t even notice the office door opening until it nearly smacks him in the back of his head. He quickly jumps to his feet and brushes himself off, pretending the best that he can that he wasn’t just eavesdropping on them for the past ten minutes.

“Stanley!” Ford comes bursting out of the room, his grin threatening to split his face in two. “I just received the most incredible news! The admissions team at West Coast Tech heard about my science fair project, and-”

The beam suddenly slips from his face, replaced with some sort of mix of confusion and concern. “Is...Something wrong?”

Stan rubs at his eyes to make sure he hadn’t started tearing up without realizing it, but no, his eyes are bone dry.

Curse Ford’s stupid ability to read his mind.

Stan covers up the gesture of rubbing at his eyes with a yawn, and stretches his arms in the air. “Nothing except you taking forever in there” he flashes a fake smile easily. “Talk about a blabbermouth, am I right?” Stan gestures towards the principal with his thumb.

Ford laughs, and returns his gaze to the pamphlet in his hands. “I don’t know,” he says. “I don’t think he’s so bad”

Stan opens his mouth to quip back, but Ford doesn’t seem to be paying much attention anymore. He’s just staring at that dumb pamphlet, his grin slowly but surely returning to his face again.

Instead, Stan shoves his hands in his pockets and shrugs, turning his gaze to the floor. “Yeah, I guess you’re right”

~~~

Stan feels like he’s in a haze for the rest of the day. Even when he tries to focus on class to take his mind off of things and redirect it on anything else, he can’t get his mind to stick.  Not even final period gym class can save him, which is really saying something, because the gymnasium is usually the one place where he thrives.

Worthless.

The word won’t stop bouncing around in his skull, hitting him where he’s most sensitive.

It doesn’t help a thing that Ford is dead silent on their walk home from school. He’s usually chatting up a storm to Stan about stuff he doesn’t really understand, and under normal circumstances Stan can’t wait to get home so he can bury his head in his pillow and drown out the sound of Ford’s babbling.

But today he’s not even looking in Stan’s direction, just burying his nose in the West Coast Tech brochure with stars in his eyes, and now Stan wants nothing more than to hear Ford babbling on about his advanced physics classes.

It’s almost insulting.

Stan sighs, and lightly taps on Ford’s shoulder to catch his attention. “Can we talk?”

“Hmm?” Ford blinks, like he needs a few moments to readjust to reality. “Oh! Of course. I was actually planning on asking you the same thing” he places the brochure in his pocket. “Same place as always?”

Stan nods. “Same place as always”.

It’s a quick change of direction and a shortcut to the beach before they find themselves on their old swing set. By now they’re both too heavy to use it properly without a risk of snapping it, but they still find it’s a good place to go when they just need to get away and talk.

“You’re not really thinking of going to that stuffy old school, are you?” Stan asks as soon as Ford sits on the swing beside him. “They’ve gotta be crazy if they think four more years of essays and exams are better lookin’ than tanned babes and gold chains. We’re so close to finishing up the Stan-O-War. Soon as graduation rolls around we’re outta here, just like we always promised”.

Ford chuckles. “That is a nice thought, but…” he pulls the brochure out of his pocket again, and unfolds it for Stan to see. “You have to understand that I can’t just pass up an opportunity like this. Maybe I don’t need a degree from any old state school, but this is West Coast Tech we’re talking about!” he beams, the stars returning to his eyes. “They’ve got cutting edge technology and multidimensional paradigm theory”

Stan rolls his eyes, but he can’t help but admit to himself it’s nice to have his brother back again after an entire day of radio silence.

“Beep boop, giant nerd robot oncoming” Stan punches Ford in the arm.

Ford’s grin only widens. “I figured you’d say that, but it’s too late to change my mind. The head of admissions already flew in this morning, and with my go-ahead they’re going to check out my science fair project later tonight and let me know then and there if they want me at their school”

“Well that seems kind of harsh” Stan quips. “What if they say no?”

Ford shrugs. “Well, then it’s like you said. If they don’t want me, you and I sail off on the Stan-O War and never look back”.

Stan frowns at the strong emphasis on if. He really thinks he’s going to get this, doesn’t he? Stan can’t exactly blame him when he’s been the reigning valedictorian of their class every year since they were kids.

“And if they say yes?”

Ford grins. “Well, then you better visit me on the other side of the country” he punches Stan in the shoulder, and stands to his feet without saying another word.

Stan can’t bring himself to join him. He knows that Ford didn’t mean anything by it, but he can’t help feel wounded by his brother’s implication that while he’s off in California having the time of his life, Stan’s still gonna be stuck living with their parents in New Jersey.

It’s just like their principal said. He’ll never amount to anything anyway, so why wouldn’t he stay in New Jersey? Where else would a worthless piece of shit like him end up?

Stan shifts on his swing and watches as Ford walks away, and he can’t help but wonder just how much of the principal’s tangent that Ford believed.

All of it?

Some of it?

Had Ford even been listening to what he said at all?

As he continues to watch his brother walk away, he can’t help the feeling in his gut that he has to know. He hates to start any unnecessary conflict, especially when there’s a very real chance that Ford will be moving to California next year, but Stan knows deep down that if they don’t talk about this now then he’ll never have the courage to bring it up again.

“Wait,” Stan shouts to Ford, and he stops dead in his tracks.

“Yeah?” Ford says, turning around to face him. Stan suddenly finds himself very aware of his heart loudly pounding against his chest, but he forces himself to squash that down. He’s never felt shy or anxious about asking his brother anything, and he sure as hell isn’t letting that start now.

“You don’t…uh,” he swallows. “You don’t think I’m…worthless, do you?”

Ford looks appalled. He neatly folds the brochure back into his pocket and starts walking- no, jogging, almost sprinting back to the swing set. He pauses in front of the empty swing beside Stan for a moment, like he’s debating whether he should sit down or not, but eventually he shakes his head and sits down anyway.

“What on earth makes you say that?”  There’s a hint of anger to his tone, but Stan’s not entirely convinced it’s directed at him. “Why would I think you’re worthless? You’re my twin brother! What could’ve possibly put the idea in your head that I thought that?”

There’s a tiny voice in the back of his head screaming at him to back out, brush it off with a joke and have this conversation later, but there’s an even louder voice shouting at him that it needs to be had now.

Stan sighs. “I…overheard everything in the principal’s office today”

Ford blinks, like he doesn’t understand a word that Stan just said. “About…West Coast Tech? Is this because you’re afraid that I’ll get in, but you know you won’t because you’re not even interested in applying anyway, but you know you’re going to miss me, and you’re not sure if you can handle-”

“About me, Sixer!” Stan shouts, and tries his damn hardest to ignore the waver in his voice. “He practically called me a useless piece of shit directly to Ma and Pa and neither of them said a word about it!” He scrubs his hands down his face because he’s not choking up, not over something so pointless and stupid. “You’re going to travel the world and become the smartest person the scientific community has ever seen, or whatever, but me? Apparently I’ll always be stuck here in New Jersey to pick up after everyone else’s messes, because that’s all I’m ever good for”

Stan buries his face in his hands. He hadn’t meant to blow up, and he certainly hadn’t meant to direct his anger at Ford, but he just feels so hopeless, and he’s the only one around who’s willing to listen. He wouldn’t be surprised if Ford returned with anger of his own, or told him off for being selfish, or even if he just decided to stand up and walk away from him for being such an embarrassment.

The silence that follows is thick and heavy. Stan is so convinced that he must’ve driven Ford away that when he feels a hand on his shoulder he nearly jumps a mile out of his skin. When he finally pulls his hands out of his face to meet Ford’s eyes, his face is flushed pink and he looks…embarrassed.

“Stan, I had no idea, I…” he awkwardly pulls his hand away and grips tightly to the chain of his swing. Stan can see Ford’s face shifting through about a dozen different emotions at once. “I…must’ve been too focused on everything else to realize he was saying those things about you.” He shakes his head. “I know it’s not an excuse, but…” he sighs. “I’m sorry”

There’s another bout of silence between them. Stan’s half-expecting that to be the end of it, and for Ford to walk away without another word.  

But Ford breaks the silence with a sigh, and when Stan glances over at him he’s staring down at the ground.

“If it’s any consolation...you’re much smarter than me in a lot more places than you realize”

Okay, now Stan has to laugh. “Okay, now you’re being too nice to me. You don’t need to lie to make me feel better”

“I’m serious!” Ford’s cheeks flush pink again, and he adjusts his glasses before returning his gaze towards Stan. “There’s actually been a fascinating number of studies about intelligence lately, and, well…” Ford’s face is turning redder by the minute, Stan swears. “It turns out that…there’s more than one type”

Stan raises an eyebrow. “You’re losing me here, Sixer”

“Well, you see, I thrive in academic intelligence. Math, science, history, you know, school stuff. That’s the most commonly known type of intelligence because a lot of our formative years are based on it”

Stan doesn’t say anything, just raises his eyebrow even further.

“But,” Ford continues quickly, “They’ve also made discoveries about the existence of social intelligence”

“Social?” Stan blinks, suddenly finding himself significantly more interested. “You mean like talking to people and stuff?”

Ford nods. “Precisely. They say people with high social intelligence are much better at picking up on social cues, and can make friends with others much easier than those with lower social intelligence.” Ford kicks at the sand. “The reason social intelligence hasn’t been recognized is because it’s often mistaken for having a friendly personality”.  His face flushes pink again, like he’s afraid he said the wrong thing. “Not that a person can’t have both, but…”

Stan smirks, nudging at Ford with his elbow. “Stanford Pines, are you calling your good-for-nothing brother intelligent?” He teases, but can’t help the genuine smile creeping to his face.

“Think about it!” Ford throws an arm into the air, the other one tightly gripped on the swing to prevent himself from falling off. “Every time Ma and Pa leave us in charge of the shop so they can go to Atlantic City for the weekend, who’s the one bringing in all the customers? Who’s the one selling out our daily stock less than two hours after we’re open? You are, Stan, just by being yourself. You know how to persuade people into buying our stock at ten times the listed price.”

“You can’t learn that from twelve years of public school. They can try to teach you, but at the end of the day it’s all about your ability to connect with people” Ford rubs at his arm. “I’ve tried teaching myself those kinds of tricks for years, but at the end of the day…” he shakes his head. “I’ve never been able to catch up.” He smiles. “I raise my white flag to you, Stan. You’ve outsmarted the smartest brother in the world”

Stan chuckles. “Try telling that to Principal Comb-over. He hears you saying the so-called dumbest clown in the entire school system is smarter than you and he’s going to cart you away to the loony bin”

Ford laughs. “You know, now that I think about it, there may actually be a way to tell him off for what he said about you and get away with it scott-free”

Stan raises an eyebrow. “Yeah? How so?”

Ford smirks. “I think you should try to graduate out of spite”

Stan’s not sure he follows. “Whaddya mean?”

“I mean, think about it” Ford stands from his swing and begins to pace back and forth. “The principal called both of us down even though he only wanted to speak to me, and then he talked shit about you even though he knew you were sitting right outside his door?” he pauses in his pacing. “Stan, he knew that you could hear him. Maybe he didn’t intend for you to listen in when he was talking to Ma and Pa about my scholarship opportunity, but he knew you’d be listening the moment you were brought up in the conversation”

That’s…true. Stan was just about to sneak out before he heard them say his name.

“He’s expecting you to fail, and he wants to put it in everyone else’s head too. He thinks it’s the easy way out, because if you choose to fail out on your own than he doesn’t have to take responsibility for being such a shitty educator. It gives him the chance to say look how he didn’t even try instead of look at how we failed him.”

“But if you proved him wrong? Imagine the look on his face when he has to be the one to place that diploma in your hand. Imagine him having to look you dead in the eyes and tell you he’s proud of you. You’ll know he’s speaking bullshit, but he knows he can’t talk shit about you anymore without making himself look bad.” Ford smirks. “Matter of fact, imagine the looks on the faces of everyone who’s ever doubted you walking across that stage. Pa alone is gonna have a heart attack”

Ford’s smile softens. “I already know that you’re much smarter than you’re given credit for, and I think it’s about time that everyone else recognizes that too”.

Stan’s cheeks burn red, and he shyly kicks at the sand. “Heh, thanks. I appreciate it.” He says. “But even if I did manage to graduate, what am I supposed to do with a high school diploma? Every job application I’ve been skinning through recently says college, college, college”

“Well…” Ford taps at his chin. “Then why not go out for college?”

Okay, now he’s taking things too far.

“Pardon?” Stan mocks, because if Ford thinks that Stan’s going to willingly take four more years of classes than maybe he should be carted away to a loony bin.

“I’m serious!” Ford blushes. “Maybe not a high intensity school like West Coast Tech, but college is so much more freeing than high school, Stanley. It’s not class after class on subjects that other people tell you to take. It’s personalized. If you hate science class so much, you never have to take another science class again”

Ford’s blush darkens. “I know that school is a big drag and all, but if you asked me?” he averts his gaze. “I think you’d really benefit from business school. Charisma and social intelligence is the number one thing that big name businesses are looking for, and I know you’re filled to the brim with both. Ultimately it is your decision, but…” Ford fiddles with his thumbs. “Just…just consider it, okay?”

For a brief moment, Stan just wants to burst out into hysterical laughter. Ford’s been offered the opportunity of a lifetime at one of the best schools in the country, and he’s still taking the time to help out his good-for-nothing brother who’s been cheating off of his exams for the past ten years.

Instead he settles for a roll of his eyes. “Alright, Professor Poindexter, I’ll consider it”

Ford giggles at that, and for a few moments neither of them says anything, watching the waves gently lapping on the beach in the short distance. It’s a comfortable silence, a reassuring sort of feeling that Stan hasn’t felt in a long time.

The frantic beeping of Pa’s wristwatch interrupts them, and both boys flinch at the sound in unison. For a moment Stan is worried that Pa’s standing behind them having heard every word, but when he glances over at Ford, he sees him rolling up his shirt sleeve to reveal that he’s the one wearing the watch, and clicks the alarm off.

“Pa made me borrow it so I wouldn’t be late for the presentation with the school board” he rubs awkwardly at the back of his head. “I’ll probably give it back as soon as I get home tonight”

Stan smirks. “You still hate the sound of that thing too, huh?”

“I can still hear it in my nightmares,” Ford exaggerates, his eyes going wide, and the twins burst into laughter as they both stand from the swings and stretch their arms and legs to wake them up from sitting for so long.

Ford wipes at his eye as he fidgets with the wristwatch. “So…do you think you’re going to be okay?”

That in itself is a pretty loaded question that could take him all night to answer, but all things considering…

“Yeah,” Stan smiles. “I think I’ll be okay”

Ford smiles back, and gestures with his thumb towards the direction of the pawn shop. “Then I’m going to head home and get ready for my presentation. You coming?”

Stan shakes his head. “I think I’ll stay out here and just…watch the ocean for a little while longer”

Ford’s smile softens, but he doesn’t say anything else. He turns heel and walks back towards the house, and it feels as though a giant weight has just been lifted off of Stan’s chest. He glances back to watch Ford go, but finds comfort in the feeling that he feels nothing at all.

~~~

Nearly five hours later, Stan sits at home, watching television on the couch to pass the time. Just out of the corner of his eye he sees Ford slip into the kitchen and gently click the door closed. Stan shuts the TV off, and spins around on the couch to face his brother.

“Well?” Stan asks, though he knows he doesn’t even need to bother asking, given that Ford looks like he’s about to burst. With a shaking hand, Ford reaches into his pocket and pulls out a glinting white envelope.

If he’s trying to keep an air of mystery about it, he’s doing a really bad job, because all at once his composure breaks and the smile that spreads across his face looks as though it could burn out the sun.

“They loved me!” He shouts, excitedly pacing the floor. “They told me they’ve never seen anyone else like me!”

His smile is so contagious that it hurts.

Perhaps another day, in another timeline, Stan would take offense to Ford’s excitement to bounce off to the other end of the country without him. Perhaps he’d even lash out, or do something he would’ve immediately regretted.

But here and now, Stan couldn’t be happier for his brother if he tried.

[blueberryexistence]

The Favorite Triplet  (encanto gift exchange)

*Note: This takes place when the triplets are about 14 years old.*

for @chaotic-bisexual-screaming

It was a hot day in Columbia. So hot that even the coldest ice cream tasted more like spoiled milk. The sky was free of birds, as they were all huddled under the sparse shade of the trees. The Madrigal Triplets, or “Los Trizilllos Mágicos” as they were referred to in the village, were spread out on the grassy field by their Casita. 

“Let’s play a game,” said Bruno.

“ A game? In this heat? Unless it has something to do with cooling down, I’m not interested,” replied Pepa.

Julieta sighed. “We wouldn’t be dealing with this heat if it weren’t for you.”

Pepa bolted up in her typical hot-headed fashion. “I simply can’t help that I’m in love! The warmth of my heart won’t cool until I know he loves me back!”  She lept for Bruno, taking him by the shoulders and shaking him. “So have a vision for me and FIND OUT!”

Bruno pushed her off gently. “I’ve already explained it, Pepa. I can’t choose what visions I see!”

Pepa groaned. “Why do you have to be so useless, Bruno?” She flopped back to her seat in the grass.

Julieta smacked Pepa with the leaf she’d been using as a fan. “Don’t say that Pepa! He’s trying his best!” she scolded.

Pepa stuck out her tongue. “You're not Mama! You can't tell me what to do!”

Julieta opened her mouth for a retort but heard another voice first. “Apologize to your brother, Pepa.” said a voice from behind the triplets.Their Mamá, Alma, was looking sternly down at them.

Julieta smiled triumphantly. 

“Sorry, Bruno,” said Pepa sheepishly. She punched his arm in what was probably meant to be a playful gesture but Bruno recoiled. 

“Ouch! Why is it that even your apologies hurt?”

“At least I am apologizing!”

“Stop being so rude, Pepa!”

“I will, If you stop acting like Mamá!”

“Well you-”

“How dare-” 

“At least I-” 

“Girls!” yelled Alma.

Julieta and Pepa both went silent.

“Why do you bicker so?” Before either girl could answer, she drew them both to her. The girls buried their faces in Alma’s dress, sniffling.

“I’m sorry Mama. I’m sorry Julieta,” Pepa said in between sniffs.

“We don’t mean to bicker. I really am sorry Pepa.” apologized Julieta. 

Bruno rolled his eyes. “Why are girls so emotional?” Despite his annoyance towards his sisters, he was grateful for Pepa’s tears, because the scorching heat had already died down, and a cool sprinkle had begun in the village. The townspeople could be heard cheering.

“Well now that that’s resolved,” Alma brushed her hands together, wiping away imaginary dust. “I’m off to make dinner. Come back to the Casita when you hear me call.”

“Yes, Mamá,” chorused the Triplets.

Alma walked off, and the girls sat back down on the grass. 

“Just like that?” asked Bruno, bewildered.

“Just like what?” said Pepa.

“One second you're at one another’s throats and the next you're best friends?”

“Hmm.” Pepa considered this. “Maybe Mamá has a gift.”

“Like a magical one?” asked Julieta.

“Yep. Her powers can heal any conflict through the power of hugs!”

Bruno laughed. “That’s the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. Then again…Mamá does give very comforting hugs.”

Julieta’s eyes lit up. The conspiracy theory was flowing now. “And that’s the reason she hugs people to greet them in the village!”

“We have unveiled the mystery!” shouted Pepa.

“We should start a detective agency!” suggested Julieta. “We’re pretty good at figuring out stuff.”

“You guys are crazy,” complained Bruno, but he was smiling.

As the giggles died down, Pepa sighed. “But do you ever wonder,” she started, then paused, as if wondering how to phrase her words. “If Mamá has a favorite kid?”

The triplets pondered this in silence. They knew of course that Alma loved them all, but was there one who stood out? One who rose above the others?

“I for one,” said Pepa, who didn’t care much for uncomfortable silence, “always thought it was Julieta.”

Juloetta seemed taken aback. “Me? It’s obviously Bruno.”

Bruno scoffed. “Sure. The most feared kid in town is Mamá’s favorite compared to her ray of sunshine and angel girl. I’ve always assumed it was Pepa.”

“Well how do we settle it? We’re all just pointing fingers at each other.”

“Sword fight?” suggested Pepa.

“No, Pepa! How about something more civil and realistic. Like…a debate! We’ll each present evidence and see if we can figure it out. If not, we ask Mamá.”

Bruno sucked in a breath.  “Isn't there an unwritten rule that says it's a bad idea to ask your Mom who her favorite kid is?”

Pepa rolled up her sleeves dramatically, and cracked her neck. “We’re about to find out. Permission to go first?”

Julieta nodded. “Permission granted. We’ll be the Jury.”

Pepa cleared her throat and began.

It was the day we got our gifts. Mama had just put us to bed. Bruno was snoring like he always does, so I couldn't fall asleep. But when I saw you slip out of bed, and leave the room, I was curious as to where you were going, and anxious to get away from Bruno’s noisiness, so I followed you.

We were only five years old at the time. Having a magical casita to make sure three toddlers didn't get into trouble was very convenient, so Mamá had no qualms about leaving us on the other side of the house. That being said, you were always the most whiny without her. You wandered across the balcony, casita making sure you didn't get too close to the edge. I trailed behind you as you made your way into Mama’s room and stood with my back pressed against the wall, just outside the door frame. 

“What are you doing here, mi dulce chica?” I heard Mama ask, rising from her bed.

Mama never called me her sweet girl.

“Why are you crying mama?” you asked, in your voice of sugar.

I froze. Mama was crying?

“Oh, Julieta.” I heard the rustle of blankets as she pulled you onto her lap. “I’m just thinking about your Papa.”

“Papa?”

“He was such a good man.” Her voice caught. “Kind and strong. Caring and hardworking. And loving. He loved you very much, Julieta.”

Silence. I imagine you curling up closer to Mamá, resting your little head on her chest. 

“I see you in him every day.”

“Me?” you're bewildered, not understanding the metaphor. I understand, I want to say. I can be there for you even better than Julieta can. To feel jealousy at such a young age is a shame, to be sure.

Mama laughed heartily. I knew exactly how she was smiling, even if I couldn't see it. It was the same smile she always shared with you. Full of warmth and wistfulness. 

“I just mean that you are also kind. And strong, caring, and hardworking!” You squealed as she poked your side with each word, until you were both giggling together. 

“I love spending time with you, my little pedazo de cielo, but now you have to go to bed.”

Not wanting to be found, I sprinted back to our room, as quickly and quietly as I could, and buried my face in my pillow. Not shaking with sobs or wailing with tears. I just lay there, face smushed, mind whirring. Why didn't I get called a pedaza de cielo? Why didn't Mamá gather me into her arms or tell me I reminded her of Papa? My sorrow soured to jealousy, then blackened to anger. It's not fair. I was glowering into my pillow when something grabbed my arm. I twisted around and saw Bruno. 

“What do you want, Brun-” My words caught in my throat as I saw the brilliant, golden light shining from the hallway into our room. My anger vanished, replaced with fear. Ignoring all my toddler instincts to cower and cry, I grabbed Bruno's elbow and tugged him out the door.

“Ahh the beginning of your torture. The first grabbing of my arm and dragging me around. It’s a-'' Bruno stopped upon seeing the silent tears in his sisters’ eyes. “And maybe,” he muttered. “I should stop making jokes when other people are feeling emotional.” Bruno whistled quietly to break the tension, as sister stared at one another. 

“Jury dismissed,” said Julieta quietly. 

“What’s that,” asked Pepa. 

“I said JURY DISMISSED!” Julieta raised her voice for the first time in years and stormed off into the village.

Bruno and Pepa shared a nod, then ran after their sister.

They found Julieta sitting on the side of the town’s well. Bruno perched beside her on the stone, and Pepa enveloped her in a hug. “What’s wrong, hermana?”

“Do you know how hard it is to be perfect all the time? Being Mamá’s sweet, caring little girl? ‘She gives everyone comfort, why would she ever need any herself?’ The one downside of being able to heal people is that I take on a bit of their burden everytime I do so. Or maybe that’s all in my head.” added Julieta, feeling silly. “It's probably nothing.”

“Your feelings certainly aren’t nothing,” said Bruno.

“They’re very important to us.” added Pepa.

Julieta smiled. “Thank you guys.” She squeezed Pepa’s hand and sighed contently. “I don’t know what I would do if you guys weren’t my siblings.”

Bruno grinned “I understand that this is a supposedly solemn moment, but I am curious as to why you think I’m the favorite of Mamá.”

“Bruno!” Pepa glared, but Julieta only smiled.

“I developed the theory a while ago when we started utilizing our powers in the village. I healed nearly a hundred people everyday. My arms got tired from baking, and my mouth nearly got tired from smiling. Pepa had to order her emotions around to make the townspeople happy, and she never once snapped!”

Pepa nodded. “That's true.”

“And through all of it Mamá never comforted us. I doubt she knew. I doubt she realizes even now. Instead we were praised for being her “strong little girls”.

Pepa flexed her muscles for effect.

“When Bruno looked anything below the line of happiness, he was tucked into Mamá’s arms and doted on. He was her “sweet boy” , her “delicate child”, dealing with a curse in the form of a gift.”

Bruno looked downwards. “I remember one time that a kid in the village called me a freak. Mamá held me close, tucked me in bed, and let me have a day off. It was the same day Pepa scraped her knee while learning how to cartwheel. It was the same day Julieta got burned on the stove.”

Pepa and Juilietta winced, remembering their injuries. 

“When Mamá heard you crying,” Bruno said softly, “She went to see what happened, and without a kiss to either burn or scrape, told Julieta to cook.”

Julieta’s eyes darkened. “I remember that day. Mamá told me to heal myself by doing exactly what I’d done to get injured in the first place.”

“I’m so sorry Julieta.” said Bruno. 

“Oh hermano, it’s not your fault.” Then Julieta chuckled. “But now curiosity has gotten the best of me. What makes you think Pepa is Mamá’s favorite?”

Pepa straightened upon hearing this. “Honestly, I would be my last option as the favorite kid.” She rested her chin in her hands and looked curiously up at Bruno. “The jury is back in and wants to hear you speak.”

His sister's attention was fixed upon him, so Bruno fished a coin out of his pocket and threw it to Julieta. Confused, she tossed it back to him. He threw it to Pepa, who snatched it out of the air, and slid it in her dress pocket.

“Point proven,” Bruno said with a smug bow.

Julieta and Pepa exchanged a look. “That explained literally nothing,” said Pepa. “I’m the favorite because I steal your money?”

“No, you’re the favorite because if Mamá had seen that, she’d have yelled at me and Julieta for throwing money around. But not you, never you. You’re the messiest, rudest, laziest-”

Pepa glared at him. “Are you sure you want to continue?”

Bruno swallowed nervously. “Point is, you’re very…” he squirmed trying to think of an appropriate word, “Imperfect! Well we all are, but you are the most. So why is it that Mamá never yells at you?”

“Hey you’re right,” said Pepa. “I always thought it was because she didn’t want to make me moody and cause bad weather, but maybe she just likes me best!”

The triplets surveyed one another. 

“I guess we better find out,” said Bruno.

“Race you there!” shouted Pepa.

Her siblings took off after her, racing across cobblestones, and speeding through the field before Casita. 

As they bounded up the front steps, Alma stepped out, nearly getting run over by her children. “I was going to call for dinner,” she laughed, “But I suppose you smelled my cooking from a mile away,” She enveloped the triplets in a hug. “Come in and set the table. We’re having a feast tonight to celebrate!”

“What are we celebrating?” asked Pepa, confused.

“Your first rainbow, Julieta’s successful attempt at a ten layer cake, and Bruno’s vision that saved Senorita Mira the other day! We don’t always need a holiday to celebrate!”

She smiled proudly at her children. “You really are amazing, mis ángels!”

The triplets grinned at each other, and smiled. They wouldn’t get an answer out of their mother tonight.

Over dinner that night, Pepa discreetly pointed her finger at Julieta. “Favorite,” she mouthed. Julieta nodded to Bruno. “It’s him!” Bruno poked his fork at Pepa. “You!”

Alma noticed this exchange. “What are you all smiling and pointing about over there?”

“Nothing Mamá,” chorused the sisters.

Bruno stuck a large spoonful of Ajiaco in his mouth to refrain from answering. 

The night was clear and cool, a sign of Pepa’s peacefulness. Julieta whipped up a flan de coco - for stress, she said- and Bruno licked his plate clean. The sun was setting overhead, casting shades of orange, purple, and pink across the sky. 

Julieta offered an arm to Pepa, and one to Bruno. They linked arms and stood like that. Connected, but separate. Together, but special. 

“Maybe we can share the role of favorite kid,” murmured Pepa, watching the brilliant sunrise above them.

Julieta and Bruno smiled. “Maybe we can.”

@thesnakeboyreblogs

[luckysevenwrites]

Is that my sweatshirt?

For the long term couples series. I am also still accepting ideas for this series.

Y/n and Jaehyun have been seeing each other for a while now. But Y/n is afraid to make the leap into commitment. That doesn’t stop them though from taking Jaehyun sweatshirt. Because sometimes you just need to steal their clothes. 

Jaehyun could not understand it, where was his favorite sweatshirt? He knew that he had it a week ago when he went to your place to visit you. But, after that he cannot remember seeing the thing. He knows that he could just put on another sweatshirt, but he wanted his favorite. There was a reason that he wore that sweatshirt all the time. It was finally at the right softness after being washed countless times. It smelled just right and fit his body perfectly. He wanted that sweatshirt.

           Looking through his closet one more time Jaehyun groans as he comes up empty handed once again. Maybe he left it at your place, but he was almost positive that he wore it home that night. As Jaehyun continues to pull open drawers and clothing out looking for the missing sweatshirt, you lean against his door jam watching him tear his room apart, as you eat a bowl of ice cream. Its when he stops in the middle of the room, hands on his hips, and lets out a loud sigh that you announce your presence.

           “What did you lose?” Jaehyun gives a start, looking over at you he watches as you shove a large amount of ice cream into your mouth. Causing you to dance around a little from the cold.

           “I can’t find my favorite sweatshirt. I know I had it when I came over to your place a few days ago. But I have not seen it since. Did I leave it at your place?” He questions.

           “Nope you were fully clothed when you left my place. Despite my best efforts,” you tease making your way into the room and sitting in the middle of his bed. You hold out a spoon full of ice cream towards Jaehyun. He leans in to eat the ice cream. As you pull the spoon out of his mouth you lean in and give him a kiss.

           “Maybe one of your other conquest took it,” Jaehyun gives you a small glare and continues his search for the missing sweatshirt.

           You and Jaehyun had been together, seeing each other, hooking up, whatever you wanted to call it for almost two months now. But, you were hesitating on making it official. Jaehyun had asked you if you wanted to be exclusive. He was willing and you knew that he wanted to be, but you were afraid to commit. You are not good at relationships. All of your past relationships had ended badly, and you didn’t want to lose Jaehyun. Meeting him at that cooking class had been the best thing that had happened to you and you weren’t about to mess it up by dating him and then eventually ruining your relationship with him.

           “Just because we’re not exclusive doesn’t mean that I’m seeing other people,” Jaehyun states, “are you seeing other people?”

           He looks up at you from his crouched position on the floor. His eyes are wide his hair falling over them, and you want to get up and brush his bangs back or use one of his many hair accessories to brush them back. You stay in your spot on the bed though and instead take another bite of your ice cream.

           “No, I’m not seeing anyone else,” Jaehyun seems to relax at that statement and you ask yourself why it makes you happy having him know that there is no one else.

           “Good and are you sure I didn’t leave my sweatshirt at your place?” He presses standing up from the floor and making his way over to you.

           “Positive, want to come over and search the place?” Jaehyun sits down next you and flops over so his head is in your lap. You don’t resist temptation anymore, setting the now empty bowl down you reach out and push his hair back from his eyes and continue to play with his hair.

           “No, I just hope I find it before I leave for tour. It’s the best one to wear,” you hum in agreement and look down at Jaehyun who has closed his eyes and is just enjoying you playing with his hair.

           “I’m sure it will show up. Do you want to go buy a new sweatshirt just in case it doesn’t show up?” Jaehyun grumbles and you make him another offer, “want to stay in bed with me and listen to music?”

           “Now you’re speaking my language,” Jaehyun sits up only to be able to pull you down onto the bed with him and to reach out for his phone to play some music. The two of you lay there listening to music, you playing with Jaehyun’s hair and him sliding his hand up and down your arm.

***

           A week later you find yourself sneaking your way into the dorms and hoping that Johnny wasn’t lying to you and that him and Jaehyun were really out for coffee, leaving Jaehyun’s room unoccupied. You hadn’t meant to keep Jaehyun’s sweatshirt all those weeks ago but when you had noticed the sweatshirt sitting on your couch you couldn’t stop yourself from putting it on. Jaehyun was not lying when he was saying it was the most comfortable sweatshirt ever, it was soft and big on him, making it’s huge on you. Perfect for curling up in. And an added benefit that you knew Jaehyun didn’t appreciate is it smelled like him.

           Then before you knew it you were wearing his sweatshirt whenever you found yourself having a bad day or missing Jaehyun. Something that you were never going to admit to him. People who were just keeping things causal did not miss each other or keep each other’s clothing. Which is why you were now sneaking into the dorms to return his sweatshirt. You needed to keep things causal and get back to the way things were before you kept the sweatshirt.

           Pushing open the door to Jaehyun’s room you signed in relief when you saw that he was gone. Entering the room, you looked around trying to decide where you would leave the sweatshirt. Jaehyun wasn’t the cleanest person in the world and you could probably just shove it under his bed and he wouldn’t think anything of it. Taking the sweatshirt out of the bag you moved towards the bed to push it under. As luck would have it, that was when Jaehyun decided to return.

           “Y/n? What are you doing?” Snapping back up and hiding the sweatshirt behind your back you gave Jaehyun and awkward wave.

           “Hey, I was just stopping by to wish you safe travels on your tour,” Jaehyun eyes you skeptically and leans to the side to see what you have behind your back. You shift to the side hoping he won’t notice what you’re holding.

           “Is that my favorite sweatshirt?” He points at you accusingly.

           “No…maybe…yes,” you duck your head in shame.

           “Why do you have it?” Jaehyun questions.

           Because it smells like you and when you’re not around I like to wear it like a crazy person because then I don’t miss you as much and it brings me comfort. Oh, and I don’t want us to be a causal thing I want us to be official but I’m terrified that I’m going to lose you because your perfect and I’m a mess. You think but instead answer with.

           “I found it at my place. Guess you did leave it there,” You shrug as you hold it out to him. He grabs the sweatshirt and holds it to his chest. Stepping closer to you Jaehyun reaches out with his free arm and wraps it around your waist, pulling you in close to him.

           “And what was the reason for you about to hide it under the bed?” Jaehyun leans in towards you causing your brain to short circuit for a moment.

           “I think your eyes are playing tricks on you,” you stutter. Jaehyun doesn’t believe you for a second.

           “Want to hear my theory?”

           “Not really,” you mumble but Jaehyun continues on anyway.

           “I think that you like me more than you are willing to admit and that you kept the sweatshirt because you like having a piece of me with you. But you are too stubborn to admit that you like me as more than just a hook up.” You look up at Jaehyun and catch your breath he is looking at you with such openness that you know he wants more, and he knows that you want more too.

           “Or you just really like the sweatshirt but realized that stealing is wrong,” Jaehyun gives you an out and your thankful for it.

           “That could be the reason. It is a really good sweatshirt,” you play with the string on the sweatshirt that Jaehyun is wearing. You feel exposed and don’t know where the two of you are going to go from here and looking at Jaehyun right now feels to intimate.

           “Y/n,” Jaehyun uses his pointer finger to lift your chin up towards him, “you can have any of my sweatshirts. Expect for my favorite one. Because it now smells like you.”

           Jaehyun pulls away from you leaving you there with wide eyes at what he just said. You watch as he makes his way towards the closet and rummages through it for a few seconds before returning with another sweatshirt in his hand. He tosses his returned sweatshirt on his bed and lifts the new one up and over your head.

           “Jaehyun!” You laugh as you become trapped in the sweatshirt for a moment. You push your arms through and Jaehyun moves your hair out of your face.

           “You can have this and when you need a different one just come and take it,” he smiles at you knowing exactly what he’s doing. He’s giving you an opening this is your chance to take it and say that you want more but you are scared. You also want him to know though that you do care about him.

           “I’m going to be taking a lot of your clothing then,” you watch as his shoulders relax, you hadn’t realized how tense he was until then. He smiles at you and pull you into him. Leaning down he connects his lips to yours. You sign into the kiss, wrapping your arms around his neck you pull him in closer to you and enjoy the feeling of Jaehyun.

           “I should get going and let you finish packing. You fly out tonight right?” You ask Jaehyun once you two stop making out.

           “We fly out tonight. I’ll message you before we take off and when we land,” he assures you and your glad that he’ll do that for you and that you don’t have to ask.

           “Okay, I’ll see you when you get back,” you pull away from Jaehyun and make your way towards the door. Before you can leave though Jaehyun calls out to you.

           “Will you be the first person I see when I get back?”

           “If you want me to be.” You tell him.

           “I do.” He admits a small blush forming on his cheeks.

           “Then I’ll be the first person you see when you get back,” you assure him. You know you should put space between the two of you, you’re crossing the line of casual, but you can’t stop yourself.

           Walking out of the dorms you can’t stop the stupid grin from forming on your face or pulling up Jaehyun sweatshirt towards your nose to see if it smells like him. It does. You wrap your arms around yourself and smile. You hope the next few weeks go fast and as you make your way home you decide that you’re not returning his sweatshirt this one is going to be yours forever.