#also this isn't a parallel

[senholiday]

keeping a running tally of all the ofmd parallels from the first season because it has a vice grip on my brain but i have neither the time nor the know-how to make gifs of them all: stede almost losing his nose to jackie versus ricky actually losing his nose to jackie "did you mean to do that?" stabbing versus headbutt "close the door" olu and jim in bed to lucius versus olu and jim and archie in bed to stede "i was, i was" mary to stede on killing versus ed to everyone on destroying the ship/them all in the storm "you wear fine things well" under the moonlight, 2x, in reverse "never left ;)" versus "i'll never leave you" ed at stede's bedside after he almost died, stede at ed's bed?side after he almost died "do you ever feel like you're just treading water, waiting to drown?" versus ed and stede treading water together ed diving into the water towards stede from the dinghy versus stede jumping from zheng's ship towards ed on the revenge sandwich for the trip, roach to izzy versus ed "fuck off, nature" ed's violence towards plants rears its head again lucius getting thrown off the ship by ed and vice versa people whittling things for lucius

[celine-song]

Fight Club (1999) dir. David Fincher

Moon (2009) dir. Duncan Jones

Black Swan (2010) dir. Darren Aronofsky

The Double (2013) dir. Richard Ayoade

Dual (2022) dir. Riley Stearns

The Substance (2024) dir. Coralie Fargeat

Mickey 17 (2025) dir. Bong Joon Ho

Severance (2022–) created by Dan Erickson

see also: this set by @anyataylorjoys

[justsomestuffreally]

I think the Batkids reaction to a Bruce who isn't de-aged to 8 but rather 29 (pre-Jason death, post his adoption) would be fascinating. 

Their reaction would vary wildly:

Dick: Oh. Bruce is soft again. Bruce calls them ‘chum’ and ‘buddy’ and gives head pats for no reason. He still isn’t perfect, his communication skills are still a work in progress, but compared to his future self? Without actively dying Dick is hugged plenty. Bruce asks him to go to the zoo, unrelated to any case, just to spend time together. Dick is hit with more nostalgia and longing for the past than he knows what to do with.

Also notable: his dad is younger than him. That is something. Second, holy existential crisis Batman, his dad is younger than him and already one adult and one teenage kid??? Dick is not ready to feel this old yet. Third, Dick has absolutely no idea how Bruce managed to stay patient through his no-pants years. He is going to thank reason every day from now on that Damian wears full protection.

Jason: After his death and League he clung to an image of Bruce. One many tried to beat out of him, but he still kept it somewhere close to his heart, buried deep enough even he couldn’t see it. When he came back Bruce wasn’t like this idea of him. How stupid of him to believe the mind of a traumatized kid. Trying to create one good thing before the kid drew his last breath. Making up memories that never even existed.

But they did. Every smile and hug and even his words reflect the image tugged safely against his still-beating heart. His dad very clearly, very deeply loves him. Which is so much worse. Because he can understand why a Bruce, who never cared, didn’t kill the Joker. But he cares. So why the fuck did he not kill the Joker?

Tim: The reason he joined the family, the reason why he became Robin in the first place was because he saw a problem when Bruce started self-destructing and thought ‘Someone needs to fix that!’. Therefore he went and collected Dick, who didn’t seem keen on fixing it. So, the job fell to him to fix it.

He thought he did a good job, he thought he fixed the problem. Except now he sees who Bruce was, and he knows he failed. Their Bruce is less soft, less affectionate, less like he was before. Batman needs a Robin and Tim didn’t manage to be good enough of one to save him. 

[Or: Tim has a guilt complex a hundred miles wide and blames himself for things that aren’t his fault part 52]

Steph: Jason and she are very similar. Both come from the Narrows, both have a mother addicted to drugs and a shitty father. The differences start when Steph keeps waiting on the roof of their apartment for Batman to whisk her away, while Jason tries to steal the tires of the Batmobile and is taken in.

When Steph started out as Spoiler Bruce tried to keep her off the field, and obviously this one would too (even if he would probably be less paranoid about it), but she knows this Bruce would have also taken her in. This Bruce would be the father she always wished for when she sat on their roof and couldn’t see any stars. 

And she didn’t get to have this because Jason went ahead and died. (Of course, she knows she isn’t fair to the guy. Dying isn’t fun… And she knows the only reason she lived is because he died. When Batman rescued her from Black Mask she was in such terrible shape that Leslie managed to convince the World’s Greatest Detective that she died. If Jason hadn’t died Bruce wouldn’t have been as paranoid, wouldn’t have noticed her missing so soon, wouldn’t have been as urgent in his response. Would have been just a minute slower, a minute which would have killed her. Just as it had Jason.)

For her, this Bruce is a distorted mirror into a past which never was. 

Cass: This Bruce and B are not the same person. They don’t move the same. In a fight, this Bruce is younger, faster, stronger. Doesn’t compensate for a previously broken spine. Less experienced. Still one of the most experienced she knows, but less. 

He still moves differently, outside a fight, less pain. More likely to engage in physical affection, more likely to hug and pat and talk. He talks more than B. B knows what she means without words. This Bruce doesn’t.

She likes this Bruce, warmth, and softness. But not as much as B. He knows what she means, when she wants a hug, when she tells him ‘I love you’ without words. B doesn’t need words. This Bruce doesn’t know her, doesn’t communicate like her. She wants B back.

Damian: At first, when this version of his father seemed uncanny and oddly familiar, he assumed it to be due to the stories of his mother. After all, she always told him tales about his father. He simply did not have the frame of reference to understand the kindness she spoke of. Clearly, the clash between the ideals of the League and the ones of his father causes these feelings, just as they did when he first entered the manor.

He presumed this to be the case until one day on patrol Batman laid a hand on his shoulder and told him he did a good job after no particularly impressive fight and he nearly called him ‘Grayson’. Because the stories of his mother may have painted the picture of this version of his father, however, it wasn’t what made it familiar; no, he knew this kindness. These hugs and compliments one would bestow upon a child. Compliments which, despite the indignity, still warm him. Because Grayson learned how to be a… caregiver from his father.

His father used to be like Grayson, used to be until his grief hardened him. Damian could have had this. Damian could have a brother and father who would- But he doesn’t because of Todd. He loathes Todd. Loathes him for ruining the life he could have had.

Why did he die anyway? Damian certainly wouldn’t have a problem escaping bonds created by the Joker, Damian would have disarmed the bomb in time, Damian would have never thrown this life away like he did.

[Or: Damian is a child who was raised by assassins and has unreasonable standards for fighting abilities and also is a child who needs to focus his rage on someone.]

Duke: He was neither there before Jason died nor in the aftermath [according to my math he was around 4 when Jason died] he joined the family when Jason was already back for 4 years or so. He mostly skipped all the drama. For him, Bruce is the way Bruce is because he is Bruce. It’s weird to see him so different, to see how grief shaped parts of Bruce which Duke assumed were just Bruce things.

He’s glad this Bruce is brighter, or not because it just highlights how much that light will dim? Who knows, certainly not him. 

What he does know is that, with their Bruce, he has a distance which, with his parents still alive, he appreciates. With this Bruce, he can understand why Dick struggled so much whether he wants to be his ward or son, how he doesn’t want to replace his parents but still have this Bruce as a dad. It definitely explained the ted talk Dick tried to give him after Bruce officially took him in as a ward.

He likes this Bruce well enough, but he doesn’t necessarily want him to stay this way. Yes, their Bruce is less happy, less open but he did heal, he did grow. Duke met a Bruce who tried to learn from his mistakes, learned to communicate better, and learned when to pull and when to push. For Tim, Damian, Dick, and certainly Jason there is too much baggage, too much history in their relationships, it’s difficult for them to ever move past- anything really.

Sure, when Dick and Bruce are on the same page they are essentially invincible but then the past catches up again and they don’t talk to each other for months. And honestly? Apart from Cass, Duke’s pretty sure he has one of the best relationships with Bruce simply because he got to know him at a better time.

Duke doesn’t mind this Bruce. But their Bruce loved Jason, cared for him so deeply the scars still show to this day. And he still chooses to open up again even if just a bit by bit. Even if just Duke can see it. He is used to being the only one that can see.

And maybe knowing this care extends to him, this love even grief can’t shake? Maybe it makes him feel just a little bit safer, a little bit warmer, a little bit brighter.

[gamorahww]

Wicked // Wicked: For Good trailer parallels

[egophiliac]

Silver is finally here...he just took the title for the most beautiful card in TWST's history...

me five years ago: wow I really hope we get to see dragon Malleus someday! that'll be so nice and wonderful. I bet he's a big silly! :)

twst: :)

GOD. it occurred to me literally three hours before the anniversary stream that they might've been saving the reveal for then to just explode us all at once. this timing was EXTREMELY deliberate. thank you Twst. I can't even focus on all the Blazing Jewel stuff because Silver wielding the physical manifestation of his Complicated Dad Issues is busy eating my entire brain. and -- oh what's that? he duos with Lilia? I'M RUINED THANK YOU ᕕ( ᐕ )ᕗ

this is your warning that I'm going to be the most annoying person on the planet come Monday morning, thank you everybody and goodniiiiiiight

[casscainmainly]

Barbara was Cass' teacher, and that bled into every aspect of their relationship. For Cass, Babs was the one who solved problems, who could explain things in a way she'd understand:

Batgirl (2000) #5

Babs was the person Cass went to whenever she had a problem, big or small. Despite Cass admiring and loving Bruce so much, whenever she needed advice she always went to Babs.

Batgirl (2000) #17 // 23 // 42

Cass is so attentive in all these instances. She often reads too much into Babs' responses, leading to her trying to emulate Babs in DC First: Batgirl/Joker by fighting the Joker, trying to emulate Babs' romances via Kon and Tai, and trying to embody Babs' Batgirl by donning her old costume.

This line from Batgirl (2000) #45 is the epitome of Cass asking for Babs' advice. Remember that in Cass' early days, being Batgirl was her first identity. Asking Babs what it was like to be Batgirl is essentially Cass asking for advice on how to be herself. Cass constantly tries to emulate Babs because she sees Babs as holding the key to her own identity.

Batgirl (2000) #5

"Tried to fix me. Teach me." To Cass, 'fixing' and 'teaching' are synonymous. Babs as her teacher also doubles as her 'fixer' - in a way, Cass sees Babs as a healer. It's no coincidence that Cass borrows Bruce's language for Leslie to describe her own relationship to Babs:

Batman Chronicles #18 // Batgirl (2000) #25

Cass is not only calling her "like a mother," she's also likening Babs (maybe subconsciously) to Leslie, a doctor. Leslie fixes up Bruce, just as Babs fixes up Cass. She doesn't just go to Babs for advice, but also for emotional support and healing.

Batgirl (2000) #49

This moment is so pivotal to me. Like other times, Cass approaches Barbara with a question (why?). But she's not looking for an answer this time - she just wants Babs, just wants to feel the presence of someone who loves her. It's here that Babs' role as teacher/mother/healer converges into someone Cass goes to whenever she feels hurt or lost. Here, no words need to be said. Babs is speaking Cass' language.

Which is why Babs calling Cass stupid is so tragic. Cass' love for Babs is tied up in Babs teaching her, guiding her through life. To be called stupid from the person who has all the answers, who you went to for guidance, who fixed you up and healed you - it was devastating.

Batgirl (2000) #54

Babs doesn't realise that Cass has been learning from her; the lessons Babs taught her weren't about literature, but were on how to live, how to love, how to be Batgirl and how to be Cassandra Cain. Babs not only dismisses Cass' efforts to learn English, but also all those other lessons that Cass knows she has learned but Babs doesn't catch. I think it's in this moment that Cass realises how little Babs actually understands her.

Babs essentially implies Cass is 'unteachable', which to Cass means Babs is no longer the person who fixes anything. So she leaves.

Their reconciliation in Batgirl (2000) #67 is also interesting. On Cass' quest to find her mother (who she thinks might be Shiva), she once again links motherhood to teaching ("Shiva wants to... teach?"). But here, Babs attempts to stop teaching Cass. She stops herself from correcting Cass' language.

Now, Babs talks about what Cass has taught her:

"You make me know change is real." I think this line is really important to Cass. For the first time, she's seeing that she has stuff to teach Babs - and Babs is letting her see that, as a way of apology. Babs finally actually addresses Cass' disability, too. They reconcile and, when Babs tells Cass to call, Cass says "The phone's two-ways." Their new relationship is built on a bedrock of mutual respect, where they can both now teach and learn from each other.

Batgirl (2008) #2

Now, Babs understands. They've gone through those ups and downs and come through with something different, something stronger. Cass still asks Babs for favours, and Babs still worries about Cass, but it's grounded in something less unequal and more trusting.

All this to say that a Cass without that core emotional connection to Babs just isn't really Cass. Babs was so integral to her sense of self and her development, and even when they drifted apart, they always came back together again. Babs was her mentor, her teacher, her mother figure; she went to her for guidance, love, and support. And I just wonder how not having Babs impacts current Cass. When she's hurting, or confused, or lost, or lonely - who does she go to now?

[lotus-pear]

yeah sure therapy is nice but teen soukoku is faster and a lot cheaper

[flowersforthemachines]

Regrets of the Dread Wolf || Demon's Bargain

For Bellara Week over at @datvcompanionweeks - Day 1

[gayofthefae]

"Mike and Nancy can't say I love you because of their parents," so close, Mike and Nancy can't say I love you in relationships that resemble their parents'.

[the-apocalypse-is-upon-us]

are you guys seeing this shit

[curapicas]

does anyone have thoughts on the focus switching to Kabru, like.

At this point we and Kabru both see Laios begin to put together a plan to take down the mad magician, and Marcille is essential in this. But perceptive as Kabru is, he's got to know that this is also for Marcille' sake.

Sure she'll be an advisor together with him in the future, but here, all he saw from her was a spell backfiring into a monster and her begging people to not hurt someone who's murdering-a-ton. He doesn't have a high opinion of her priorities, even if he doesn't wish ill on her. My first thought was that Laios defense of her would be a bit frustrating for Kabru, even. Though he has an equally low opinion of the canaries' methods, and Shuro's report would force their involvement

But honestly, his past disgust with Marcille doesn't factor in this at all. This might be the first time Kabru is seeing how seriously Laios takes both defending his plans and a friend. Against someone Laios respects, no less! Considering what Kabru's own objectives are (a mission, but not progressing enough to formulate well-thought plans), as well as his most selfish desire is (companionship), I wonder if seeing this didn't affect him, a little. Maybe as an inspiration? Or as kinship?

After all, isn't “this person is both an important part of this plan and important to ME, and I won't let you kill them” reminiscent of another dynamic? Even if in this moment, he's not there yet.

[demaparbat-hp]

In your Spitfire AU, since Zuko is looking after Lu Ten II, what happened to Ursa?

Zuko is slightly older in the Spitfire AU. He was banished at fifteen, his head a little clearer and denial a little weaker than in canon. After his first look through the Air Temples, Zuko decides that if he can't find a myth, he might as well search for the next best thing.

Finding Ursa isn't easy, but in time he makes it to a secluded house in a near-forgotten part of the world. His mom is there, older and stronger and alive.

But she isn't alone.

And Zuko, as it turns out, didn't keep the best company during his search.

When Ursa is discovered and her secrets are laid bare for assassins (for Ozai) to find, she begs Zuko to take his little brother and run. She'll do anything it takes to protect her children, even if that means leaving them behind to keep a target off their back. Ursa diverts attention from them and allows Lu Ten's ancestry to be kept a secret. She orders Zuko not to follow her again, and disappears.

Zuko is left with a little three-year-old brother to raise and a mother he cannot hold onto.

[tootiredtocares-blog]

Arnold x dispatch, whatever the fuck edwin had with Henry and William, the parallels with moon and sun toxic yaoi wins again

[theflashjaygarrick]

What I want from a Red Hood story is for the child of one of the people he murdered to become a vigilante in an attempt to kill him. Someone who is a lot like him too. A lot of people act as if Jason only kills the worst of the worst or people comparable the literal joker but that isn't strictly true. Clearest example of this is when he's in prison and poisons the food supply killing 82 prisoners (that's actually why he ended up in Arkham).

So what if the child of one of those prisoners heard that their father was murdered in prison in a mass poisoning? That it was by Red Hood, the feared crime lord who oversees and manages all the organised crime in Gotham. The guy who (from what they know) is just profiting on a whole bunch of systems that can cause death and despair and suffering in their neighbourhood and sure, he didn't start these problems, but he damn well didn't fix it either. The same guy who cut off the heads of all the deputies of his rivals and shoved them in a bag to prove a point. That guy is the reason their father is never coming home. That their family's chief breadwinner is dead. Why their life will have a permanent hole in it.

So they decide they'll get revenge. And if the Bat won't deal with the Red Hood properly then they will have to. So they spends their days train and prepare themselves for the day they get to go face to face with the Red Hood. The man who killed their father. The crime lord who ruined their life.

And so they come before the Red Hood the same pain and fury that Jason recognised in himself. The same belief that sometimes the only way to get justice is vengeance and sometimes the only vengeance is bloody. How would Jason even respond to that? Someone who sees him as a villain of Gotham City and not its protector. Someone who in another life could be him?

[charlesemersonwinchesteriii]

if Crozier had a nickel for every time someone close to him kept a mortal wound secret from him he'd have two nickels which isn't a lot but it's definitely enough to give him some very specific trauma for the rest of his life

[firefly-suite]

hi and welcome to tdp callbacks that would actually send me

"if i am the king then you have to let me go"

"i'm corvus, i was specifically requested"

"i don't believe in locks"

"haha nice one callum, he deserves it"

"lady justice came to me in a dream"

"don't get yourself killed."

"strength isn't always about weapons"

"shhh, nobody likes a noisy mage"

"tell me she wasn't your world"

"you're just like your grandmother"

"she’s not my friend, she is my prisoner"

"rickety snickers"

"wasn’t the horse~"

"i am a storm dragon. i certainly hope it's working."

"in the name of love, you may perform acts so unforgivable… you will never forgive yourself."

"we could travel the countryside and try the seven cakes of xadia!"

"i am prepared to do anything to protect the king. anything. i hope you will understand"

"i guess it wouldn't be the first time i accidentally on purpose ruined a super rare magical artifact."

"don't do this. i will kill you" "probably"

"anyone know any adventuring songs?"

"we can find more practical uses for this one"

"well, i think about it like this, why see myself as chained down, when i can be chained up?" "i admire your tenacity"

"just the three of us"

"watch, he'll come back reciting an epic poem about his adventuring. he's probably late because he's stuck thinking of a rhyme for 'legendary heroics.'"

"the world just isn't ready for what we have. "

"i have been doing research!" "yes, i can see that"

"i do not understand girls"

"i thought you disapproved" "i disagree. but i stand by you anyway"

"you know what? in a few years, when you’re older, buddy, we’ll sit down and have a heart-to-heart talk about sandwiches."

"i would rather die a king, than live as a coward."

"edge-frazzled"

"soren is a doof but he's my doof!"

"it doesn't matter what happens to me. live or die, this dragon goes home."

"the kingdom of duren has been suffering from a terrible famine for nearly seven years. "

"you big dumb human."

"even if you were wearing the rarest legendary armor, forged by sunfire elves... super dead."

"fool me once, shame on you. fool me twice, shame on me. fool me three times, back to you again." "that's not how it goes." "shame on you."