#and don't even get me started on the graphic novel either

[r0zzk1ll]

Hello bendy fandom Really fucking long rant/analysis abt me defending wally franks batim in a nutshell (and kind of basically making an au??.?. idk probably). enjoy if u want or don't idc 🎷🐇

i know this is a really stupid thing to be mad about, but the fact that wally isnt buddy boris has stuck with me ever since dctl was released. i found out through a fucking superhorrorbro video of all things all the way back in like 2018 i'm pretty sure 😭😭 i was so disappointed when i found out bc like WHAT DO U MEAN THE JANITOR/HANDYMAN OF JOEY DREW STUDIOS, EHO WAS GENERALLY A TRICKSTER AND A CLUTZ AND LIKED TO PISS PEOPLE OFF, ISN'T THE PERFECT BORIS CLONE. BUDDY BORIS FITS/HAD POTENTIAL TO FIT MOST TO ALL OF THAT CRITERIA.

and don't grt me wrong, i (kind of) like buddy as a character, BUT i really just don't think he fits the role (from what i've seen/read). like he could've been a different boris clone as a little easter egg/nod to what happened to him and how he died but as like. an important role in the game?? even though the books aren't even fucking canon apparently now so his subplot doesn't even make sense anymore?????.????... ooh bitchh

ALSO the "he (wally) got outta there that's why/he has a wife and kids" IS A WEAK ASS FUCKING ARGUMENT. THIS IS NOT A SHITS AND GIGGLES PLOTLINE U CAN JUST THROW AWAY. how come thomas grts to be tom (which makes somewhat sense with him also being a handyman type of guy), but wally can't also partake in the Main Character-ified Borisification to help henry traverse the studio. why can't that just be so easy to do. there could've been so many cool extra plotpoints and nods to what could've happened to him but Noooo Noooooooooo they just HAD to make a whole new character JUST for wally to NOT BE BORIS. ESPECIALLY WHEN THE BOOKS ARE NON CANON NOW BECAUSE THAT MAKES TOTAL SENSE. (/sarc)

and don't FUCKING quote me on batds bc i know SOMEBODU will be like "b-b-b-bbut b-b-buddy's whole s-s-side plot with collecting the scraps in batds makes him c-c-c-canon!!! 🥺🥺🥺💖😭😭💔💔💔🎀🎀✨✨ ur just mad bc it's not what was assumed by the fandom!! ;-; úwù heh..." FIRST OF ALL, BUDDY ISNT EVEN MENTIONED IN ANY OF THE CANON GAMES (besides the secret message in the safehouse but i don't think that rlly counts imo), NOR DOES HE HAVE ANY RELEVANCE IN THE STORY WHATSOEVER, WHICH MEANS HE IS STRICTLY BOOK-CANON. SECOND OF ALL, BATDS WAS KNOWN AS A SIDE/EXTRA GAME AT THE TIME OF IT'S RELEASE AND WASN'T EVEN CONFIRMED TO BE APART OF BATIM OR ANY OTHER PART OF THE FRANCHISE (ASIDE FROM A SIDE GAME TO PLAY WHILE BATDR WAS IN PRODUCTION) UNTIL BATDR WAS RELEASED AND CONFIRMED BATDS IS HAPPENING DURING IT (WHICH DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE EITHER)!!!

I DON'T CARE WHAT KIND OF OPINION COULD CHANGE MY MIND. WE GOT A PERFECTLY GOOD AND WELL-DEVELOPED CHARACTER (AND A [PERSONAL] FAN FAVORITE) AT THAT POINT FOR WHO BORIS COULD'VE BEEN, AND IT GOT TAKEN FOR SOME STUPID SEEMINGLY HALF-ASSED SUBPLOT THAT'S ONLY HALF-CANON NOW BECAUSE MIKE FUCKING D IS A GOD DAMN MORON IDIOT BASTARD ASS BITCH OHHH MY GOD IT MAKES ME SO ANGRY I'M GONNA PULL OUT ALL MY HAUR

sorry. almost lost my cool there guys.. ☝️😎 (/J)

soo with all that said, PERSONALLY this is what i think they should've done with buddy instead (under the cut so this post isn't 600 pages long)

first of all; scrap buddy's origin story completely and just make dtcl about the fact that he was simply another victim of the machine instead of making him such a major character (ex. a boris clone that was almost perfect but didn't quite make it like i said earlier)

on top of that, dctl could've just been insight on a single worker's process through working at the studio to being one of many victims of the machine, instead of turning him into such a titular important gary stu ass character with an in-depth backstory and Joey Drew Favoritism™ apparently that CLEARLY didn't need it + shouldn't be an mc if he's only in the books + the books aren't canon and the games are. so then it doesn't make it make any sense if he has such an important role and he isn't even fucking canon anyway and etc.

if he would've just stayed a minor inconvenient mc in a non-canon book it wouldn't have been detrimental to the lore as Mr. D Likes To Exaggerate (to me) + the books just seem like a fun one-off exclusive to the game series anyway, so it starts to kind of make sense why they aren't canon and leaves a lot of mysteries up to interpretation which is something i DO appreciate (to a CERTAIN extent)

here's what i think could've been done if wally was actually buddy boris and faced The Horrors™ like a normal main character should. an au, if you will (AND bc im VERY bias abt wally since He was my first ever og blorbo the first time i heard his audio log i literally owe him my Life💜💜💜💜)

wally could've started dropping hints in his audio logs that something funny was happening in the studio (specifically to him)/he could've been the last major victim to be sacrificed to the machine and therefore being one of the reasons of having the role of "the perfect boris" as malice said

-he also seems like the type of person to give into manipulation fairly easily, not knowing how truly bad something is before he gets involved yk

-a bit of a stretch BUT could also be a nod to susie's initial likeness towards wally pre-canon and vice versa (sourced from the special audio log wally has on the jds yt channel)

-him being the perfect boris also could allude to his personality/attributes and the way he talked abt the studio

and you can't forget the audio log of him and thomas bickering like COME ONNNN THERE COULD'VE BEEN A WHOOOLE SUB-SUBPLOT WHERE TOM AND BUDDY BORIS RECOGNIZE EACH OTHER SOMEHOW AT SOME POINT BUT THEY DON'T KNOW HOW

-TOM COULD'VE RECOGNIZED HIM EVEN AS BRUTE BORIS AFTER HENRY KILLS HIM and allison too but TOMMMMMMM😭😭😭😭😭CAN ANYONE HEAR MEEEEE

extra hints in the game like certain phrases and mannerisms of his (ink/glowing ink writings like his "i'm outta here!" written in certain locations or like. boris being clumsier as he walks/carrying around keys/scavenging for food [kind of like in the start of chapter 3], etc.)

-i also think that the connection that buddy boris (and just boris in general) has with food can connect with wally as well bc of the audio log where he's like "Omg 💖 Cake 💖just for me! Don't Tell Anyone Though. Our little secret. 😝" or the bit in the handbook where he finds some "churros" i Guess

there's also a LOT of potential for there to be a whole OTHER subplot where sammy could have found him one day and hadn't recognized him bc All The Boris Clones Look The Same, but buddy boris recognized sammy and there could be a whole conversation with henry and sammy abt him and dropping hints at it and blahblahblah etc etc.

-sammy probably could've mentioned him* at some point too even if he hadn't seen buddy boris as like a "hey.. i knew that fuckass guy.. wtf" (*and i know he mentions wally in the hot topic takeover thing on twitter from a while ago but i mean like in the actual game)

i think that the fact of boris being a Non-Verbal King™ would also be a funny contrast to how many god damn audio logs wally has. like Shut yuor mouth fucker /REF

the bit in chapter 3 where boris knows every nook and cranny of the studio and how to navigate the vent system could also lead to wally's nature of having a lot of knowledge of the layout to the building (due to being a janitor/running errands for people, similar to buddy) + he mentions staying in late to freshen up some offices so he might've explored more using that time as well because his personality shows he's a bit of a nosy guy

ALSO a stretch, but wally's first audio log in chapter one being fairly close to the first boris corpse displayed could've been a good foreshadow to his revival as buddy boris (and where the theory originated i'm pretty sure once ch2 came out)

the saferoom at the start of chapter 3 could've also been a great place to reference him (they could've put his hat from bendy royale in the shelf next to/on the hammock Can anyone hear me)

i also think that wally is supposed to be painted as an older guy?? so he probably already would've moved on from the studio due to leaving and starting his own business and having a family I Guess?????? idk but to me i think he'd be more of the college drop-out that thinks he's hot shit type of guy when in reality he doesn't know what a 2 + 2 is (ex. the audio log in batds where he's like "i was the best Student! Brickmore High! [tiktok bold emoji] These college bozos don't be knowin' shit!!"

-younger people are easier to manipulate like i talked abt earlier (especially someone like him that doesn't think before he Does Anything . boy has no thoughts)

wally also most likely would've known who henry was/was friendly with him while working there too at some point while henry was still at the studio pre-canon, so he probably recognized him throughout the cycle

i could ramble forever abt this bc it's such a strangely frustrating topic for me BUT in conclusion; i personally tbink that it would've been perfectly logical for wally to have been buddy boris (probably called somethig else), and buddy should've been a completely seperate character that would've done just as well on his own in the book instead of having a whole ass overarching plot for no reason?? and the "canonicity" of it is weirdly up for debate??? idk Watever thank you for coming to my tedtalk 😇😇Bye

⭐ !! bonus wally doodle dump since u made it this far !! seriously why r u Here ⭐

[lavendershowcase]

Queer Summer Reading Challenge is Here!

If you're looking for a LGBT reading challenge for the summer, look no further! Text-version of bingo chart below.

These are a combo of prompts of books to read and just new reading habits you can try like reading before bed, outside, etc. From now until August 31st, work through this bingo sheet and see what kind of queer books you can read!

How do I participate? Simply download this image (or track your reading however you prefer) and start reading queer books based on the prompts in the boxes. You can do it on your own, with friends, or send in progress to the blog or our discord (you can find the invite link on our book club posts or ask for in a DM or ask!)

How do I win? Just like any bingo card, you need 5 across, down, or diagonal! If you want a shout-out, you can send your finished card in to me, and I'll put it on the blog!

What do I win? I had initially wanted to have some prizes life a e-gift card to bookshop.org or a partner with a queer artist or two to provide discount codes to an online store. Maybe in the future, I can offer something like that when I have more time and money to spare on a small gift card! This summer, your prize is just reading more queer books!

Free space. You can use this space as either a true free space (you don't have to read anything for it and just mark the spot as soon as you download the card) or as a chance to read a book that doesn't fit in with any other prompts. Or you can even use it as a spot to make your own prompt!

Can one book count for multiple spots? It's up to you! Make this challenge as realistic as possible for yourself. Some of us read slow! Some of us can read a book in a day. Do what you can. It's a challenge for yourself.

Do audiobooks count? Yes. Of course. I even made a special spot for it.

What if I can't find a good book to read or don't know what will fit the prompt? You can come to me! I can recommend queer books for this challenge or direct you to lists of books online. My DMs and inbox are open. You can even mark it down as a spot on the card!

What if I don't get bingo before the end of August? You can keep going! Or you can be done! You can do whatever you want forever. You're always more than welcome to continue to working on this year-round and send in updates to me! What am I going to say? "Oh you're reading books in the wrong season." No!

I'm not queer. Can I still participate? Yes! If you're cishet and want to read more queer books, you're welcome to join us! Everyone is welcome here.

If you have any questions or just wanna chat about books, you can DM or send in an ask to this blog! If you want to post your progress on your own blog, you can @ me, too. The discord will also be open for any convo!

Have a good time reading!

Full list of bingo prompts under cut:

Column one from top down:

A Classic, Adult Fiction, Horror, Recommendation from @lavendershowcase, Young Adult, Fantasy

Column two from top down:

Set in a city you've never visited, Author from your home state, Historical-Fiction, Indie, Read on lunch break, Read outside,

Column three from top down:

A book you've left unfinished, Juvenile Fiction, Has been adapted into a movie, Free Space, Science-Fiction, Short Story

Column four from top down:

Banned book, Read before bed, Graphic Novel, Set before you were born, Non-fiction, Neurodivergent Main Character

Column Five from top down:

Romance, Trans Main Character, Check it out from the library, Picture book, Listen to an audiobook, BIPOC Main Character

[in-this-crystal-kingdom]

SPOILERS AHEAD FOR SUFFERING GAME GRAPHIC NOVEL

Okay SO. Everyone has some thoughts on this one for sure as I have seen. A lot of people are saying they took a lot from Wonderland and that it's a disappointment as an adaptation but here's the thing: I have viewed the books as separate canon from the podcast since around Crystal Kingdom. I don't necessarily see it as a faithful adaptation but as a cool way to get more people into the story without giving EVERYTHING away in case they decide to listen. However, that being said, I have some things to say. I'm going to start with the negative first because even though I LOVED this book I so have some things I will miss about it (but please understand that I LOVED THE BOOK SM GUYS, I will ofc be adding what I loved after this part)

My Issues/Things I Wish Were Included:

Magnus trying to find his own answers with the voidfish. I was really looking forward to how they would show and represent that!

"I'm afraid no one else will have me" was such a good scene, I really liked the vulnerability Taako showed then because aside from his scene in Petals we haven't seen a whole lot of that from him in the books (again, I veiw the books as separate canon, but it would be nice to see)

CAM! I missed Cam so much he was delightful

No Boss Rush

I don't like that they basically forced Magus to decide if he wanted to lose Julia and never mention Gov. Kallen at all. That was such an impactful moment and they kind of side stepped it unfortunately

Trust or Forsake is missing which is also unfortunate

A lot of what made Wonderland interesting is either spedrun or absent so they kind of took the Wonder out of Wonderland

Taako giving up his beauty is also gone! Which sucks ass! My only true issue with this book that I genuinely was heartbroken over. I understand it can be a hard thing to show, especially when it runs the risk of someone in real life looking at the design and going "ow, that looks like me!'. So like. I get it. I really do. But they cut so much of Podcast!Taako's growth in Book!Taako's character that it was a sore spot for me personally.

If they let Johann live in the next book I will be very upset

SPEAKING OF NEXT BOOK!! Now that I have all my negative out of the way ohohoh boy I'm gonna share the positives I have with it. Given that, again, I view the books as separate story than the podcast, I thought they did a wonderful job overall. Solid 8/10 for me! Here are the things I am still screaming about

Things I adore about this book and will be living rent free in my head forever

TAAKO AND KRAVITZ KISS LIKE 5 PAGES IN AND I SCREAMED CAREY ATE WITH THAT

Merle's kids 😭😭😭

JOHANN IS ACKNOWLEDGED IN THIS ONE RAAAAAAAA I WAS SO WORRIED THEY WERE TRYING TO CUT HIM OUT

I love the redesign of Wonderland looking like a circus instead of a roulette wheel, I liked that a lot

Kravitz calling Taako to tell him to be safe,,, the call getting cut off,,,, pain

I loved the wheel it looked so cool

Edward and Lydia were giving Velvet and Veneer and I am HERE FOR IT

Heart Attack my beloved 🥰

ARMS OUTSTRETCHED!!!!!!!!

WHAT DO YOU MEAN TAAKO SAW KRAVITZ IN THE TAR??? WHAT DO YOU MEAN HE TRIED TO SAVE HIM?????? MCELROY FAMILY AND CAREY WHEN I GET YOU-

Seeing the umbra staff (*cough cough* Lup) BEAT THE SHIT out of Edward was lovely, no notes

HOW GRIFFIN DISAPPEARED!!! I WAS HOPING THEY WOULD DO THAT!!!

BLUEJEANS REVEAL

The Umbra Staff jumping into Barry's arms 😭😭😭

Taako having STATIC IN HIS EYES seeing the staff and Barry together CAREY PLEASE

MERLE SEEING JOHN, THIS IS NOT A DRILL PEOPLE

L U P SHE IS SO FUCKING BEAUTIFUL I CRIED I AM SO GLAD THEY GAVE HER LONG HAIR TOO!!

GOD THE BOOK ENDED WHERE I WANTED IT TO AND THEN SOME ACTUALLY (I thought it would end with the line "Lucretia, what have you done???" BUT MAN I'M NOT MAD IT WENT ON A BIT LATER)

THE IPRE PAINTING. THEM. THEY. ALL OF THEM. I AM DYING. MY CROPS ARE WATERED AS SHIT.

[javaghoul]

Characters & Book Recommendations

•Hide wouldn't refer to himself as a "reader", but he isn't allergic to books. He'll mostly be aware of trending titles, but will also read some super obscure stuff.

Go to him for: trending books, self-help/improvement, manga, Hide's Current Obsession Of The Week ™️

•Nishiki is a "I don't read books because I have to read lots already for university 😒" fella. He sneers at fiction.

Go to him for: boringass science books, textbooks, journals

•Of course Rize is on the list! Her taste is diverse, and having a keen mind and a lot of curiosity, she is going to read Most Genre's, with the exception of graphic novels. She isn't going to lend you a book though. Buy your own.

Go to her for: translated literature, thrillers, horror, classics

•Akira is a tricky one. I think she'd read more books if she had the time. Has a tbr list as long as her arm. Very picky with fiction. Has a general knowledge of many books.

Go to her for: non-fiction, social commentary *disclaimer*:: whilst she can recommend books, keep in mind she likely hasn't read them... And she doesn't need to to form an opinion.

•If Banjou is reading a book, it's probably something that is either: 1). Really important. 2). Really good.

Go to him for: Look, he needs the encouragement and support, so go to him to just show interest and be kind, yeah?

• Eto: seriously?

Go to her for: [maybe go to Sen for this, in public] Anything, even her shopping list is going to be a banger

•Saiko reads! She'll read when she has breaks between gaming. She'll happily lend you a book too.

Go to her for: manga and light novels, graphic novels, YA, horror

•How can you not ask Shuu for book recommendations? He's transcended being A Reader, and is A Bibliophile. He has his own library. With a cherry picker. He'll also lend out books (but not the "nice" books. He has dedicated crappy paperbacks that he'll lend out to people like you and me. Doesn't even care/notices if he gets them back. You're welcome.)

Go to him for: free books, translated literature, classics, horror, contemporary, social commentary, poetry, science fiction, basically anything except romantasy. Do not get him started on that.

•Of course Kaneki is on the list! This is self-explanatory. What I will say about him, is he is hesitant to lend out books for two very important reasons: 1). They are incredibly precious to him. 2). He annotates them, so it's kinda like reading his diary. Aww. He'll probably buy you a copy if you're that keen.

Go to him for: anything, you can't go wrong. Go to him and ask for book recs even if you don't need them; it's worth it to watch him come to life and talk about something he truly loves.

•Do you like fucked up books? Books which can only be self-published and sold online? Books where you have to take breaks for your own well-being? Ones that'll make you never want to eat again for fear of vomiting because of what you've just read?

Go to Uta for: the above 👆 and art books.

[thegayhimbo]

Stranger Things The Dustin Experiment Review

If you haven't yet, be sure to check out my other Stranger Things Reviews:

Stranger Things Reviews/Theories:

Stranger Things Play:

Stranger Things The First Shadow

Stranger Things Comics/Graphic Novels:

Stranger Things Six

Stranger Things Halloween Special

Stranger Things The Other Side

Stranger Things Zombie Boys

Stranger Things The Bully

Stranger Things Winter Special

Stranger Things Tomb of Ybwen

Stranger Things Into The Fire

Stranger Things Science Camp

Stranger Things “The Game Master” and “Erica’s Quest”

Stranger Things and Dungeons and Dragons

Stranger Things Kamchatka

Stranger Things Erica The Great

Stranger Things “Creature Feature” and “Summer Special”

Stranger Things Tales From Hawkins

Stranger Things x Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Crossover

Stranger Things The Voyage

Stranger Things “Deliver Me From Evil”

Stranger Things Tie-In Books:

Stranger Things Suspicious Minds

Stranger Things Runaway Max (Part 1 of 3)

Stranger Things Runaway Max (Part 2 of 3)

Stranger Things Runaway Max (Part 3 of 3)

Stranger Things Darkness On The Edge Of Town (Part 1 of 3)

Stranger Things Darkness On The Edge Of Town (Part 2 of 3)

Stranger Things Darkness On The Edge Of Town (Part 3 of 3)

Stranger Things Rebel Robin Book and Podcast (Part 1 of 2)

Stranger Things Rebel Robin Book and Podcast (Part 2 of 2)

Stranger Things Hawkins Horrors Review

Stranger Things Flight Of Icarus

Stranger Things Lucas On The Line

Stranger Things Episode Reviews:

The Vanishing of Will Byers (Season 1, Episode 1)

Synopsis: Following the Battle of Starcourt, Dustin attempts to adjust to life in high school as he deals with the fallout of being targeted by bullies and his friends growing distant. When he learns of a science fair taking place in Indianapolis, Dustin enlists the help of Eddie Munson to get the project off the ground as he begins to consider his future.............

Observations:

I ended up reading this book twice, prior to the 2024 Election. First time was difficult to get through due to a slow beginning and my mixed feelings about the last 4-5 pages. Rereading it a second time and thinking things through was a more positive experience, and I ended up having a lot of fun with the story, especially when it came to Dustin's science project and his personal adventure at the science fair.

In terms of how I'd rank it, I'd say it's definitely better than last year's Flight of Icarus, and even a cut above Lucas on the Line due to not having continuity errors. However, it's not quite to the level of Rebel Robin or my Top 5 best tie-ins in the series. There were issues with it, but the book does a good job sticking after you've finished it, and what it presents does make me excited for the direction they could go with Dustin in season 5.

I'll start with the parts I took issue with, and work my way up to the positives that made the book worth reading:

Part 1: Bullying (i.e. The First 3rd of the Book)

Those who have followed my blog know I don't have any patience for bullies. In fact, when it comes to Stranger Things and the themes it explores, I have a harder time watching scenes with characters like Troy, James, Tommy, Carol, Billy, Jason, Angela, the Rink-O-Mania crowd, and Two, in comparison with the horror aspects like the Upside Down, the Mind Flayer, and Vecna. A lot of it has to do with how the bullying is uncomfortably grounded in reality, as well as a lifetime of experience on my end dealing with people like this (both on social media and off it). The last year alone especially has been eye-opening with how shamelessly vile and hypocritical some people will be, especially if they think they can get away with it. It's gotten to the point I'm not hesitant anymore about blocking people, or dragging them over the coals if they continue to poke the bear one too many times. At some point, you either develop tougher skin and a "No patience for bullshit" attitude, or you continue to be a target and a dormant for these people. I chose the former.

Having read Lucas on the Line beforehand, I knew that a story focusing on Dustin between seasons 3 and 4 was bound to focus on him and Mike getting bullied, and wasn't surprised when they depicted it in all of its ugliness:

I'll be honest in admitting I never liked Jason as a character. When I first saw season 4, I pegged him immediately as self-absorbed and coasting on self-righteousness and arrogance (even before Chrissy got brutally murdered), and the way things played out did NOTHING to alter that perception. While I initially felt bad for him over the grief and anger of losing Chrissy, that immediately vanished the moment he whipped the townsfolk into conducting a witch hunt against the Hellfire Club without giving a damn about whether innocent people would be hurt in the process (which they were).

Since the release of Season 4, and the subsequent tie-ins that have accompanied it, my opinion of Jason has NOT improved, especially with how this book, Lucas on the Line, and Flight of Icarus depict him as a bully with his own prejudices and anger issues that would lead him to look for any excuse to pick fights with people he didn't like.

I would go as far to argue that Chrissy's death didn't turn him into a monster so much as it brought out the nastier aspects of his character that were already there to begin with. This dude was a timebomb waiting to detonate, and even if Chrissy hadn't died, something was eventually bound to set him off.

On top of that, Jason's treatment of Mike in this book is pretty awful, and only made him more detestable. It also makes his not-so-subtle threat to Nancy in "Papa" about going after Mike a lot more heinous in hindsight:

The book helps flesh-out Mike and Dustin's irritation with Lucas wanting to join the basketball team and why they have a problem with it. It also give context into why they believed Lucas was deluding himself when he claimed this would allow him, Mike, and Dustin to become popular in High School and therefore untouchable to bullies: That was ALWAYS a fantasy that was never going to happen. Jason and his squad were repeatedly awful to Mike and Dustin during their first year of high school, and no amount of Lucas kissing up to Jason was going to change that. Their frustration with Lucas was less about him wanting to play basketball (though neither of them show much enthusiasm for the sport to begin with) and more about wanting Lucas to wake up and realize how much of an asshole Jason and his buddies are.

I've seen fans criticize Mike and Dustin in the season 4 premiere for skipping Lucas's championship game to do Eddie's D&D campaign, and while I initially could understand that position, having time to reevaluate has made me realize they probably made the right call in hindsight. For all of his flaws, Eddie accepted Mike and Dustin and gave them sanctuary within the Hellfire Club, which made their lives in high school bearable. He even offered that same courtesy to Lucas in spite of Lucas also doing basketball (something that Jason had no intention of ever doing for Mike or Dustin while they were a part of Hellfire Club). Whatever acceptance Jason initially gave Lucas (which arguably had a lot to do with Lucas making the winning shot in the championship compared to if Lucas had messed up and cost them the game) came with strings attached. The moment Lucas crossed Jason is the moment he would become Jason's enemy, regardless of the reasons.

All of this makes me indifferent towards Jason's eventual fate. I'm not going to say I was glad he died, but at the same time, my sympathy was nonexistent by the time he bit the dust. Some people might call what happened to him Karmic Overkill, but Stranger Things has always made a point in demonstrating that karma doesn't distribute itself how you want it to. Decent characters like Barbara, Chrissy, Benny, Bob, and Eddie all suffered horrific fates they didn't deserve, whereas awful people like Troy, Tommy, Carol, Colonel Sullivan, Dr. Brenner, and Angela were lucky if they got any sort of comeuppance. Hell, Angela is one of the most loathsome characters in the entire series, and the best she received for her sadism and public humiliation of El was a Grade 2 concussion as opposed to the grisly death she arguably deserved.

Hell, I would go as far as to argue everyone in Rink-O-Mania who took part in El's bullying deserved a gruesome end a la Stephen King's Carrie, but I don't get to make that decision, and neither did El. They're all disgusting people devoid of any redeeming qualities, and I won't feel bad when they're eventually on the receiving end of the cruelty they've dished out (especially since none of them have the self-awareness to recognize how mean-spirited they are), but the cold hard reality is people like Angela and her ilk get away with that kind of behavior in real life (as we just saw a few weeks ago with the 2024 U.S. Elections). Characters like Angela and Jason getting any sort of consequences for their behavior, even if it's small, is cathartic for me, and that's not something I'm going to apologize for.

I will say that, for all the bullying Dustin experiences in this book, he handles it in a mature manner. A lot of this has to do with Dustin having life experience dealing with this kind of crap, and recognizing how pathetic and unoriginal it is:

Out of all the characters in the Party, Dustin is the one who adapts well to his environment, and it's a big reason he's been able to survive the hardships life throws at him. It's something I admire about his character.

Part 2: Dustin's Friendships/Relationships

Adding on what I previously said, it's notable Dustin is the one who makes friends the easiest. He may have come late to the Party (around 4th grade, according to him), but he was able to integrate seamlessly with Mike, Lucas, and Will, which is something the comic Stranger Things and Dungeons & Dragons depicts:

A good chunk of this has to do with Dustin working to find common ground with people and seeing the positive merits in others. It's how he developed his friendship with Steve and looks up to him in a big-brotherly way. It's how he formed a bond with Eddie in this novel. It's even how he's able to reach across the isle towards people like Ankia (who initially has a haughty attitude towards Dustin before she mellows out), or Danny, or Suzie, or the kids at Science Camp as depicted in that comic:

It's a good life skill that will serve him well when (and if) he leaves Hawkins alive.

A central focus in this book is Dustin reevaluating what he wants in his life, as well as how he views his relationships. Since the events of the Battle of Starcourt, the Party has split, and Dustin feels he's been left to fend for himself. In many ways, the structure of the story echos what Lucas went through in Lucas on the Line, except in this instance, it's Dustin aiming to try out something new in order to deal with the changes in his life. While Lucas veered into basketball, Dustin decided to put his intellect to use by entering a science contest. Unfortunately for him, neither of his friends express much interest in his passion: Max is depressed and isolated following Billy's death and Neil leaving her mom, Mike has shut himself away following Will and El's departure from Hawkins, and Lucas is in basketball training and hanging out with Jason's jock friends, which causes friction between Dustin and Lucas. The most support he gets for the project is from his mother and Eddie.

Speaking of Eddie, his introduction doesn't disappoint. Just like in Flight of Icarus, Eddie is someone who's moved past caring how others think of him (something Dustin respects him for), has no issue publicly calling out Jason and his jocks for their bullying, and is quick to adopt Mike and Dustin into the Hellfire Club (and later Lucas as well). Dustin's desire to impress Eddie, first by fixing his walkman and later his AMP box, is what inspires Dustin's science project: A Super AMP box of his own that would allow Dustin to record sounds, play them back, and measure changes in distortion and signal-to-noise ratios. With some encouragement from Eddie (as well as a promise for a drive to the fair and an arrangement to listen to Eddie's playlist of Heavy Metal music), Dustin heads out on his own side-quest (as he cheekily puts it).

The friendship between Dustin and Eddie is a highlight, and Eddie's attempts at helping Dustin are hilarious as well as heartwarming. Eddie is someone who likes Dustin for who he is, and encourages him to not let others tell him who he should be:

In many ways, Eddie reminds me of Jay from Lucas on the Line who also acted like a mentor figure/friend to Lucas, and motivated Lucas to be his true self.

The tragedy is, in spite of both Jay and Eddie being positive influences for Lucas and Dustin, both of them were cruelly driven out: Jay was forced to move after being targeted in a racist attack against him, whereas Eddie got scapegoated for Chrissy's death and died before he got to clear his name. It's a parallel that reminds me of Karen's words to Nancy in season 3: "This world, it beats you up again and again until eventually........most people, they just stop trying." Both Dustin and Lucas have always been fighters (same with the other members of the Party), but it doesn't make it any easier that the people they care about disappear from their lives when they're at their most vulnerable.

Speaking of vulnerable, part of the conflict Dustin has with his friends is also similar to Lucas's conflict in Lucas on the Line where both characters are going through their own hardships and assessing whether their friends will actually be there for them. Dustin does clash heads with Lucas over basketball, but a good chunk of that has to do with the crowd Lucas is hanging out with. Dustin knows Jason and his jocks are NOT nice people, and is baffled over why Lucas would want to be someone like that:

It takes some time, and a few missteps, but Dustin is able to eventually not only see Lucas's perspective, but also Mike's perspective regarding his issues, and make amends with both of them before things permanently fall apart:

This isn't much of a spoiler since the group is united again at the end of season 4, but the suspense leading up to that point comes from HOW they're able to keep their friendship together in spite of life's tribulations. There's a moving scene at the Video Rental Store where Robin and Steve hold an intervention to get Mike, Dustin, and Lucas to reconcile. During it, each find out that, despite the surface differences, their fears are similar in nature: Behind Left Behind. Losing friends. Failing the people they care about. Their bond is a lot stronger than they give it credit for. And as Steve notes, a lot of the problems they're having are manageable if they're willing to talk through it:

Speaking of Steve, it was nice seeing the book cover his relationship with Dustin. Just like in season 2, Steve takes on the role of mentor as Dustin keeps barging into his workplace (oftentimes before Steve closes, or else scaring off customers in the process) to vent about his issues. Steve, of course, takes it in stride, and offers what advice he can (along with the new video releases that Dustin is interested in).

I was initially worried this book would feature petty jealousy and contrived drama between Steve and Eddie over which of them Dustin liked the best as a friend (similar to what the show Supernatural did with Sam and Dean Winchester in Season 8 when they introduced the vampire character Benny and tried to play him as the new "brother" that Dean wanted over Sam). Thankfully, the book steers clear of that. We get brief glimpses that Steve is insecure that Dustin has started to lose interest in him as a friend (something that Dustin refutes in the narration), but Steve never becomes actively malicious against Eddie or tries to prevent Dustin from seeing Eddie (which is in direct contrast to how the Benny/Dean/Sam drama played out in Supernatural). The regrettable thing is that, had Steve and Eddie talked beforehand (similar to how Steve was encouraging Dustin to talk to Mike and Lucas before making any rash decisions), they could have become friends a lot earlier before season 4. 😞

Suzie also makes an appearance, and just like with Steve, she acts as an encouraging presence and voice of reason for Dustin as he's navigating high school. Their interactions are sweet without being over-the-top, and they even run a book club where they discuss novels they're reading together. In fact, compared to Mike and El's stilted communication while they're apart in different states, Dustin and Suzie are a lot more open with each other about what's going on in their lives (minus anything to do with the Upside Down). It makes their relationship look healthy in comparison.

I know people see Suzie as a "take-or-leave" character, but I like her, and I'm glad Dustin and her are a couple. I'm not sure what the future holds for them, but I hope she is eventually clued in to the Upside Down. I'm also hoping we get to see her interact with other characters besides Dustin (like she did with Mike, Will, Jonathan, and Argyle in season 4) and maybe even have some kind of role in helping Dustin against Vecna's army. Who knows? Her intelligence and love for fantasy could be put to good use in that situation.

We also see a little more of Dustin's friendship with Will in how they keep in touch via letters. It's a relationship that remains solid, with a nice balance between Dustin's intellectual side and Will's perceptiveness. Will encourages Dustin with his science project, and gives advice to Dustin regarding his difficulties with Mike and Lucas, as well as what he should do with his future:

There is something to be said about Dustin and Will being the glue that holds the Party together. Considering that Dustin is able to talk about his problems easier with Will in letters than he's able to with Mike or Lucas, it gives the impression that, out of all the members of the Party, Dustin is able to relate better to Will. Or maybe it's because it's easier for Will to speak openly about his thoughts and emotions, compared to Lucas and Mike who struggle more.

Dustin's interactions with Max and El are shown briefly, but aren't given the same in-depth look as his other relationships. Dustin is aware of Max's depression and living situation (and later finds out she broke up with Lucas) and does what he can in offering to be there for her. As for El, while he doesn't know the particulars, he picks up pretty quickly that El is unhappy in Lenora for reasons that are obvious to the audience (May Angela continue to get hit in the face with a heavy object every day for the rest of her miserable life). 😒

Finally, there's Dustin's relationship with his parents. The few interactions I've seen between Ms. Henderson and Dustin have always given the impression they're close and that they do a good job supporting one another, and this book confirms that. She knows that her son is a genius and allows him to nurture his creativity and scientific interests (even as she's having to call the power company multiple times since Dustin uses up the electricity in the house). I like their mother/son relationship, and I'm disappointed she's not coming back for season 5.

As for Mr. Henderson..............Dustin sums it up best to Eddie:

This is pretty consistent with how Walter Henderson was depicted in The First Shadow, and I'm glad the book includes this nod to the play.

Part 3: The Science Fair

The middle part of the book, which deals with Dustin building his "Bard Box" (i.e. the AMP box he uses to record sounds) and his adventure with Eddie in Indianapolis, was my favorite part. Not only does it feature great bonding moments between Dustin and Eddie (including the hilarious revelation that Eddie has a fear of ducks), but there's a fun mystery Dustin stumbles upon while he's at the fair that allows him to put his deductive skills to work. It's a plot with similarities to the comic Science Camp in that Dustin meets a group of nerds like him whom he befriends and they work to track down a culprit with malicious intentions.

Just like with Science Camp, I won't reveal the particulars or who the culprit is, but it was pretty easy to figure out the culprit's identity. However, the journey with Dustin and the new friends he makes is enjoyable, and I wouldn't mind seeing those characters again in a future tie-in. There's also a fun bit with Eddie having to look after a duck named Frodo Quackins (yes, that's actually his name) and his ability to improvise and entertain people:

If Eddie had survived, he could have had a career in theater, and he would have been good in it. 😞

All of this leads up to a moment where Dustin is offered the opportunity to escape Hawkins and attend a prestigious science school called Eastwood. And the remainder of the book deals with Dustin struggling over whether to accept the offer or not.

Based on how season 4 went, you can already guess how that panned out.

And this brings me to where Dustin's story goes from here......

Part 4: Dustin's Future in Season 5

I've speculated for a while that, just like with Nancy's crusade to get justice for Barbara in season 2, Dustin will be trying to clear Eddie's name in season 5 for Vecna's murders. Based on the BTS photos they've released, it looks like there's a long road ahead for him:

I'm hoping there's a major payoff to this potential arc beyond just clearing Eddie's name. Part of the reason I brought up bullies like Jason and Angela earlier in this review is because I've started to grow sick of seeing the main characters repeatedly getting dumped on while receiving zero credit for putting their lives on the line to save the world. Meanwhile, assholes like Angela and Jason make the main characters lives a living hell, all the while enabled by the people around them, and are either coddled for their behavior (Angela) or memorialized for it (Jason). While I doubt Angela or any characters from Lenora (including Argyle) are coming back for season 5 (though if she does return for some reason, I hope Vecna causes Angela's head to explode), I have a sick feeling that Jason's hold over Hawkins will still be there by season 5, and characters like Dustin will be dealing with the fallout of Jason's crusade. Whether it's in the form of Jason's basketball team taking revenge for their fallen comrade, or Hawkins residents swallowing the propaganda about the Hellfire Club being a Satanic Cult, I expect life isn't going to be easy for a while. That's not even getting into how Dustin will still be grieving Eddie's death and having to put up with the slander thrown Eddie's way.

What I'm hoping for is that, during all of this, there is an eventual reckoning for Hawkins. That the residents are forced to come face-to-face with the lies, the bigotry, the prejudices, the bullying, and all the uglier aspects rooted in the town's social structures and history. I'm not going to be happy if the townsfolk remain passive while reacting to the horrors around them as the main characters are forced to do the heavy lifting in keeping Hawkins safe. We've seen that for 4 seasons now. It's old and tired. The status quo needs to be broken in a major way that forces changes in Hawkins which will actually stick. The show has hinted in season 4 that it could go in this direction, especially with Vecna destroying the town and opening a large gate, and I'm hoping season 5 makes the most of it.

There are plenty of stories out there that have done this. J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings did this with the Scourging of the Shire where the Hobbits had their lands decimated by Saruman and his men, and were forced to take up arms and become self-reliant in fighting back and no longer remaining isolated from the world around them. Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood also did something similar where the main characters were forced into a reckoning with how the nation of Amestris was formed, as well as the corruption rooted in its government, and make hard but necessary changes that would bring peace to the world and allow for a better future. That is the kind of arc I hope Stranger Things explores with Hawkins in the last season. Not just having the main characters receive credit for defeating Vecna and the Upside Down, but actually having the residents of Hawkins play a role in that and go through a permanent change in the process.

As for Dustin.........if he survives the events of season 5, I hope he gets the opportunity to leave Hawkins and pursue his scientific interests in a way that makes him happy and allows him to keep in contact with his friends and family. He deserves that much.

[justsomerandomfanfic]

For matchups for romantic .For Gotham/the dark knight. Men plz.

I’m a straight demisexual de romantic woman, so I have to have an emotional connection. Be friends with someone first before I fall in love. I’ve curly black hair, brown eyes and brown skin. I’m 4’11.

I love dark things and grim fairytales. I also like reading Edgar and Poe. I’m an introvert so I like going to quiet places . I don’t like loud noises and bright lights.

I like cat cafés and coffee shops. I love cats and sweets. I have a cozy/alternative style. I love the colors, black and purple.. I love horror movie and Halloween. I also love reading horror and scary stories. Be it graphic novel or book.

Hello :)

I am sorry about the wait!

<3

This was really fun to write!

<33

I really hope you like your matchups!

<333

Enjoy!

Romantic Matchups; Gotham and DC (The Dark Knight)

~~~

Romantic;

~~~

Gotham;

Edward Nygma (The Riddler) -

You were standing in line at a dimly lit coffee shop when someone behind you softly said your name

You turned, startled, and saw Edward, your old high school friends

The boy who once corrected your crossword answers on one of your homework assignments

Who never failed to bring you Halloween candy

Your eyes lit up

His breath hitched

You hadn't seen each other since graduation

He remembered everything

And elephant never forgets

Your favorite book, your favorite coffee order, even your favorite colors

You both laughed over catching up and swapped numbers after promising to "do this again"

And you did

What started as coffee catch-ups turned into late-night messages where he mostly sent you riddles

You introduced him to your favorite horror graphic novels

He surprised you with remembering every details

Even referencing obscure quotes in casual conversation

He loved your introverted nature

He was also kind of introverted too, to an extent

And unlike most, he respected your quiet

He started taking you to lesser-known museums, underground bookstores, and lantern-lit garden paths in the city

His awkward, nervous mannerisms made you smile

He’d get flustered every time your hands brushed, or if you complimented his glasses

One night, you were sitting beside each other in your favorite quiet café, sharing a slice of cherry chocolate cake

A storm was brewing outside, lightning casting flickers across his glasses

You both thought it was best to stay in the café until the storm died down

He looked at you mid-conversation and stopped

He found himself watching how your curls bounced when you moved

The way your eyes lit up when you talked about Poe or Halloween

You caught on

The longer silences weren’t uncomfortable

They were filled with tension

The way his leg pressed lightly against yours, how his fingers lingered when he handed you your coffee

You were walking home one autumn evening after visiting a vintage bookstore together

You had just bought a worn copy of "The Raven"

“Riddle me this,” He said softly, voice trembling slightly, “I speak without a mouth, I flourish in silence, I grow with time… And I only ever exist for you.”

You paused, lips curving into a smile as your brow furrowed in thought, “A secret?” You guessed

He smiled shyly, shaking his head, “Close… But no.”

He turned to face you fully, eyes earnest. “It’s a feeling. My feelings. For you.”

Your breath caught

He reached for your hand, “The answer… Is love.”

“About time,” You whispered, grabbing his lapel and pulling him in for a kiss

Dating Edward means cozy nights indoors, book exchanges, and inside jokes in the form of riddles

He leaves notes in your coat pocket, either with a riddle or-

Okay, they are always riddles

He brings you black and purple roses on spooky anniversaries

He gets flustered when you wear his shirts, but he can’t look away

He calls you “darling" and "my muse"

He helps organize your Halloween decor and carves riddles into your pumpkins

He wakes you with soft kisses

Will write riddles on your arm for you to see and solve even before you wake up

How you don't wake up when he is writing them on your arms is beyond you

You bake dark chocolate cupcakes together while playing horror vinyls

He insists on matching black aprons

Quiet dates in candlelit cat cafés where he strokes a black cat with one hand, and holds your hand with the other

Late-night walks in cemeteries with historical plaques

Cause why not?

Solving puzzles together

Escape rooms!

Visiting a haunted mansion tour

~~~

DC;

Jonathan Crane (The Scarecrow) -

You were browsing the darkest section of a quiet old library, tracing your fingers over the spines of old horror books

That’s when you heard it

Someone behind you said, “That’s a good one. But if you want real dread… Try "The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym."”

You turned to see Jonathan Crane, reading glasses perched low, tall frame looming but calm

He wasn’t used to someone not backing away

You smiled, and thanked him

He blinked, intrigued

You kept running into him

By accident at first, then intentionally

You’d exchange horror book recommendations, debate Poe vs. Lovecraft, and drink bitter coffee with a side of quiet companionship

He liked that you didn’t chatter too much, that your voice was soft and steady

You were so much better than most people he'd met and even worked with

You liked that he spoke quietly, too

His calm presence mirrored yours, and you found yourself drawn to the sharp glint in his eyes whenever fear was discussed

Academically, of course

You shared a love for all things unsettling

He once brought you a preserved black butterfly under glass

You smiled like it was a bouquet

He started sitting closer

Offering to walk you home

Giving you rare horror books from his personal collection

One day you arrived at the library late, and he looked genuinely worried

“You’re late,” He murmured, adjusting his glasses

“I thought something might have happened.”

Awe

He started noticing the way you tucked your curls behind your ear when you were deep in thought

He began to dread the days he didn’t see you

He started thinking about you at work, before bed, and when he woke up

It happened on Halloween

You invited him over to watch horror films and eat candy

You wore your favorite black and purple sweater, curled up on the couch

He watched you more than the movie

“I don’t… Like people. But you- I think I might need you. Which terrifies me.”

Your fingers found his, warm and sure, “Fear isn’t always bad, Doctor.”

He kissed you

Slowly, cautiously

Jonathan is a reserved but fiercely loyal partner

He doesn't shower affection constantly, but when he does, it's deeply personal and unforgettable

He calls you "my love," "darling," and "my forevermore"

He likes writing poems for you

He tells you about his fear research

And don't worry!

He'd never use the fear gas on you

He likes bringing you home random trinkets that he thinks you might like

He's like a crow or raven

Antique creepy "totally haunted" dolls, preserved roses, and wax with stamps if you want to write a fancy letter or something

Your relationship is very quiet but intense

Shared glances from across the room

Knees touching under tables

He reads you horror poetry in bed

You drink tea on rainy nights in complete silence, just listening to the storm

He starts sleeping better with you near

He won’t admit it

His hand always finds yours under the covers

Attending underground horror book clubs or poetry readings together

He would totally turn your house into a haunted house exhibit for the neighborhood kids for Halloween

Not only is it fun for the kids, but for Jonny since he can do more research

*No children were harmed*

Going to the planetarium late at night

Watching thunder and lightning storms out the window

[genericpuff]

Okay, what the FUCK is Inklore?

My ULO pals and I have been deliberating on this one since it was announced. "Inklore", the brand new imprint from Random House Worlds - which is, in and of itself, an imprint of Penguin Random House - and Rachel Smythe Presents, an in-house program of sorts that's dedicated to graphic novels, specifically those that "tell updated, romantic versions of classic stories and mythologies, and caters to readers looking for bingeable, relationship-driven stories with a distinct visual voice."

Basically it's exactly how it sounds - they're creating an imprint for works like Lore Olympus, and using Rachel as the leading lady.

But let's dig a little deeper. Because the more I searched on Inklore, Rachel Smythe Presents, and Random House Worlds, the more it started to paint a picture of what's really going on here.

INKLORE

I talked about this in my recent analysis of LO's pacing problems, but Inklore launching in Spring 2024 conveniently lines up with what would seem like a reasonable end point for LO. Rachel's always lined up LO's episodes with real life dates and holidays - even when it's been at her comic's own expense - and while we've kept our minds open to the possibility that it could end later than Spring, there's no denying at this point that LO itself is dragging itself out, which gives me stronger reason to believe it's just trying to make it to March, specifically March 20th, which is the first day of Spring in the northern hemisphere. Because of this, our best predictions right now is that LO's series finale will either release on FP or unlock for free readers on either the 16th or 23rd of March (if it unlocks for free on either of those dates, that means we can expect the series to end behind the FP paywall on either April 6th or 13th, assuming they're aren't any more hiatuses, but at this point I doubt there will be.)

Moving on, let's look at the actual Inklore site-

Already you can get the vibe of what kind of work they're looking for through their imprint. This is for people like Rachel. Now, I'm definitely not going to rag on anyone's tastes, I myself am a weeb of epic proportions, but considering you're about to see what's really the highlight of this site, you'll get what I mean when I say this isn't for people like Rachel, this is for people like Rachel. Specifically Rachel.

RACHEL SMYTHE PRESENTS

Inklore seems to be just an imprint specifically for Rachel Smythe Presents, with a couple extra series tacked on to give off the impression of it being more credible than it is. It means the whole site can be dedicated to it, rather than having it shoved in haphazardly alongside Penguin Random House's other works. You'll see what I mean in a second, but let's magnify those questions real quick, shall we?

As soon as I saw the "we are not accepting unsolicited pitches for Rachel Smythe Presents", it dawned on me that Rachel's own fans don't know how imprints work. Why do I say that? Look no further than the comment sections on her announcement posts for RSP (which I'm abbreviating, but I assure you, it stands for "Rachel Sex Party"- /j)

Of course, there are plenty of "congratulations" comments and "please do xyz myth", in which case, please, don't let her touch more myths I beg you-

But then there are also the odd comments of people asking how to get involved themselves. People who are just, by all accounts, regular people on the Internet.

But wait, how do you get involved? Thankfully there's a handy URL in that FAQ telling us how.

And holy shit, it's hilarious.

Guys, it's so easy to get into Rachel Smythe Presents! All you have to do is finish a manuscript, find an agent who's willing to work with a new unpublished author (and hope that they're not a scammer), get your manuscript prepared for publishing and submitted to editors, and then hopefully land a book deal! Wasn't that so easy?? Thanks for demystifying the process, Penguin Random House!

Listen, okay, there's something to be said about how difficult it is to navigate the publishing world. While some of those difficulties are for good reason - to ensure that not just any piece of crap thrown on paper can get published - many more are rooted in privilege, racial gatekeeping, and sexism. It is still an industry being run by a lot of nasty old fucks who take full advantage of people desperate enough to get their book published.

All that aside, it's kind of hilarious - in a sad kind of way - to see fans of this comic assume that this project and its opportunities were ever made for them. It wasn't. It wasn't made for the Canvas creators, it wasn't made for the Wattpad writers, it wasn't made for the people who work in the medium that Rachel started out in to get where she is today. It was made for the people who are already 3 of the 4 steps into Penguin Random House's "helpful" guide on publishing. It was made for the Cait Corrains and the wannabe Rick Riordans.

At best, Inklore is simply a home that's been manufactured for Lore Olympus after it's done on Webtoons. It may remain on the WT platform forever - or maybe not - but Inklore gives it a way to be seen and acknowledged outside of its niche. Because, despite Webtoons attempting to make Lore Olympus a global phenomenon, it really hasn't sold well in other countries, especially those where it was translated which people from those countries have stated it's not translated well at all.

It goes to show that much of LO's claim to fame was manufactured within North America by Webtoons itself, and Inklore is just another one of those manufactured attempts.

Still don't believe me? Still think I'm wearing too much tinfoil?

There are still only two series that Inklore has to show for itself - and remember, it launches in two months - and of course the ones leading that charge are every single volume of LO, even the ones that aren't "new and upcoming" anymore.

And then there's their Instagram, which is just more of the same-

(wonder if they ever found a Marketing Manager? Not exactly the role you want to be left empty leading up to a launch, oop-)

But wait, doesn't that site layout look a little... off? Almost cheap, maybe? Am I being too harsh-

Oop, nope, it's the exact same template used for the LoreOlympusBooks.com website.

Wait a minute, what about the imprint that Inklore is attached to? Random House Worlds?

RANDOM HOUSE WORLDS

... Uhhuh. I'm not entirely convinced that Lore Olympus is in any way on the same level as fucking Star Wars but to the average onlooker, this would make Lore Olympus seem pretty big and important simply on the virtue of it sitting smack dab in the middle of a grid of massive franchises.

So I'll bite, where do these buttons go? They all lead to external sites selling books and merchandise (except for the Marvel Studios one, which hilariously doesn't have a URL attached, so that button goes nowhere LMAO)

... Oh. It's that layout again.

Not all of them have the same layout, mind you, but it seems to be the default layout for sites they just haven't buffed up yet. It would explain why the Star Wars and D&D sites are a lot more robust in their designs, while others just link back to Penguin Random House:

Now the Minecraft one does look better at first glance, but it's still just the same template as the LO site, with a slightly different layout, but working off the same design philosophy, like they just spent a few extra hours dragging things around and spiffying them up in a site editor.

So it seems a lot of the default sites are working off the same CSS stylesheets, which doesn't exactly look good for LO and Inklore's online identity.

But hey, it's gotta mean something that LO is sitting alongside such franchises as Star Wars, Marvel, Magic the Gathering, and Minecraft, right? These are some of the biggest franchises on the planet, and while LO does make a lot of money, it's still nowhere near the billions that these franchises generate every single year.

And that's what I would be saying, if I hadn't noticed the specific products that Random House Worlds was selling - all easily churned out merch, from cookbooks to spin-off titles, which aren't exactly the main draw for these franchises, simply stocking stuffers or otherwise fun gimmicks to try out.

(I actually own the Dungeons and Dragons tarot deck. It's shit. They don't actually tell you the suit of the cards, JUST the numbers, so you have to flip through the book and match up the pictures on the cards with the pictures in the book just to figure out if it's Cups, Pentacles, Wands, or Swords, which I'm sure you can figure out, if you're a tarot reader, is very inconvenient and doesn't make for a good card reading experience)

Point is, Random House Worlds seems to mostly be an imprint dedicated solely to the cheaper products and books they can make to pump up a franchise's merch count. Even the Critical Role site doesn't offer the campaign books, those are published by their own personal imprint Darrington Press and are offered on their main - and much better designed - site:

Instead it's selling printed versions of interviews and... mad libs.

Not made or even really endorsed by the Critical Role cast, because if they were, they'd be on the main site, where the good shit is.

Random House Worlds is, at least judging off what I've found here, the "trick the parents into buying it" imprint. It's simply there for parents to see, go "my kid watches / plays that!" and then buy a Beholder puzzle which their kid will undoubtedly start and then never finish and eventually throw out half-finished after all the pieces have been lost. It's the cheap merch money generating machine, with works written by people who were simply paid to write it, and not people actually involved in the larger franchises.

And this is the imprint that Inklore and Rachel Smythe Presents is going to be an extension of.

At best, Inklore will likely just be a home for Rachel's work post-Webtoons, with maybe the odd success outside of it. At worst, it comes across as nothing more than an ego project, another artificial attempt to place Rachel and LO on the same playing field as Marvel, Minecraft, Star Wars, and Dungeons & Dragons through the only means that they can - an imprint that specializes in off-brand books, which they're truly counting on people just seeing the logos and going "wow those are big franchises!" and associating LO with that status simply by affiliation - without it having anywhere near the actual level of prestige, household influence, or brand recognition.

Its readership is dying out, its stats dropping, and worst of all, the vast majority of people - of which its a very small amount - who have heard about LO without being a Webtoons user themselves have heard how infamous it is in its bad writing and poor art direction.

It has nowhere to go but down, and if you were hoping to be a part of Rachel Smythe Presents, then all I can suggest to you is to go through the very simple process of finishing your manuscript, finding an agent, finding an editor, and then (hopefully) landing a book deal with the 'esteemed' Inklore.

Good luck! ヽ(・∀・)ﾉ

[youhavethewrong]

Yuiviews: Psychopomp GOLD, My Favorite Horrible Experience

I want to talk about how much I like this game, but in doing so, I have to be careful. Recommending horror is like recommending comedy - if you recommend it to the wrong person they'll think you have terrible taste. Not everyone will think that the things you personally find funny are funny, and not everyone will think the things you personally find scary are scary. But in that subjectivity, sometimes you find something that is so tailor-made to your specific fears tastes, it feels like you finally found someone that really understands what it means for something to be scary.

In this review, I'll try to exlpain why Psychopomp GOLD is my personal nightmare.

Explaining what makes Psychopomp (henceforth I won't mention the "GOLD" part of the title cuz it just means it's an enhanced version of the original) so scary is like explaining why a dish is tasty. I don't fucking know man, it just hits different! But this is a review after all, and no one would've liked Ratatouille if the ending was just the critic guy saying "it's a vibe", so I'll try.

I guess I could start with the first thing that'll stand out: its retro visuals that seem to combine the interface of an old PC Point and Click game, with the environment graphics of a PS1 horror game like Silent Hill or Nightmare Creatures.

In the story, a (I think unnamed?) girl figures out that everyone in the world has superpowers, and decided not to tell her. In retaliation, she builds the Psychopomp, a big helmet that allows her to se the world as it really is. When she puts it on, she finds out that there's secret dungeons underneath every government facility, filled with labyrinths and grotesque creatures. And so, she sets out to explore them and find the mysteries hidden within.

(She'd do numbers on tumblr)

You'll have noticed that the previous paragraph is fucking insane. That is because, to put it mildly, our protagonist could really use a friend to talk to. She is someone who believes in conspiracies, that the world is out to get her, and that violence is the answer. And you're quite literally playing the game through her eyes.

(If you don't know what inosculation is, I don't recommend looking it up. Picturing humans doing that isn't a pretty mental image)

Now, being alone in a horror game is nothing new. Countless franchises, such as Resident Evil, the aforementioned Silent Hill, and.... well, Alone in the Dark, base a lot of their horror on the very basic and universal human fear of being on your own in an unknown environment. I'd wager Fatal Frame wouldn't be nearly as scary if, say, Donald and Goofy followed you around to beat up the bad guys and cast poorly-timed cura spells on you, for example.

But here's the thing that Psychopomp did differently: You're not alone as the character, you're alone as the player. This is because the main character doesn't think any of this is scary. At all. She keeps her nervous, unblinking smile at all times even when beaten bloody. From her perspective, she's just going on an rpg-style adventure through different dungeons. She thinks you're a little bitch for being scared.

(She's not sweating because she's scared, she's sweating because she probably doesn't shower)

This further level of disconnect made me feel a level of isolation that I hadn't felt with previous horror games. In other games I had played, at least the main character freaking agreed with me that this wasn't an ideal situation to be in. But with this girly here I don't even have a fictional character to fake share my anxiety with, as her uncaring smile pushed me on to keep exploring, picking up, and killing things.

(She didn't react to this either, so I don't think she'll react to anything)

And why was I so anxious? Once again, "Horror game where you explore creepy environments and defeat enemies every so often" isn't exactly a novel idea. Well, one of the things that I think Psychopomp does best is just how good it is at making you deeply uncomfortable through the game's characteristics.

Your flashlight doesn't illuminate nearly as far enough. The healing items are a bit too hidden. Every time an enemy shows up they shriek a little too loudly. Every time you kill them the screen shakes a bit too much, a little too suddenly. There's always something a little bit out of frame that'll startle you if you turn too quickly.

(In my old habit of not looking at steam descriptions before purchasing games, I didn't realize this game had monsters in it. So imagine my surprise)

It's all little details, but really good horror always focuses on the details. And in Psychopomp, all of these and more add up to a uniquely uncomfortable and anxious experience.

But I saved my biggest praise of the game for last, and it's something you might've noticed already: IT ACTUALLY HAS AN ART STYLE! YIPPEEEEEEEE!!!!!

(LOOK AT THIS! LOOK AT THIS! IT LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING SOMEONE DREW! OMG IM SO HAPPY I COULD CRY)

In broad strokes, horror games tend to have 4 art styles:

Realistic, if you want the horror to feel like something that could happen.

Anime, if you want people to feel bad for the cute young female protagonist.

Yume Nikki, if you're using RPG maker

Five Nights at Freddys, if you want to release an episodic unfinished mess that youtubers react to so you make mucho moola

As you may have noticed, all the art styles mentioned have a specific purpose, depending on what the developers are aiming towards. So having a horror game actually look distinct, to be actually bold enough to try something new that hasn't been proven to work before... well, it's a breath of fresh air. And not only is the game's art fantastic, but it also adds a lot to the creepily nonchalant attitude of the protagonist - her smile standing in opposition to the things unfolding in front of her, and her wide-open eyes being a clear signifier for her finally seeing the world as it truly is. Her pupils having multiple circles within both make her gaze more piercing and reminiscent of old timey crazy cartoon characters. It's all a fantastic case in favour of stylization with a purpose.

So yeah. I feel like I've spoken my piece. If there's anything else to add is that, at the time of this writing, I've only played 40 minutes because I got too anxious to keep going. And also I got an achievement for beating a level without healing which I did entirely because I didn't find any healing items all the way throughout.

(This isn't an achievement, this is cruelty)

If any of what I mentioned sounds interesting to you, give Psychopomp GOLD a try! It's a horrible, horrible experience that I can't recommend enough.

(To end this Yuiview, have this picture of Plushie That Makes Me Scream Because I Didn't Know It Existed Before The Makeship Campaign Ended #581)

[beth-purcell]

I'm getting sick over the hate everyone is giving Meatly and Mike. Yes, they have made a lot of mistakes, but who hasn't? It's been five years now since the Kindly Beast controversy, and honestly, I think people need to let it go at this point. That doesn't mean I don't feel bad for the former KB employees, they did deserve better than what they ended up getting, I just want people to leave Meatly and Mike alone because it's starting to get under my skin.

That's completely fair, and very understandable. The fandom has its moments of forgetting that yes, Mike and Meatly are human/human operating a puppet, and people are allowed to grow and mature from mistakes and be forgiven and what not.

Unfortunately, Mike and Meatly have not shown that they've grown or matured from the Kindly Beast controversies, and as far as I've seen it, which feel free to take with a grain of salt, they have either doubled down on them being in the right, or taken the lesson that they need to get better at hiding their tracks, which you know is not a great plan when you're on the internet.

Mike has flat out admitted on his YouTube Page, prior to deleting everything again, that "there's nothing to change" in regard to the handling of the Kindly Beast Drama.

And if it was just the Kindly Beast situation and nothing else, I'd definitely just give an eyebrow raise but move on, but the major problem is that it's not. 5 years later and we've still seen them doing things that make it difficult for a lot of people to justify supporting them.

The treatment of the books is its own documentary in itself, especially with rumors of a new original graphic novel coming out, and rumors of how the authors found out their books were no longer canon (spoiler alert, it's when everyone else did because the decision was a spur of the moment [allegedly]), despite being marketed as such, and the situation involving Thomas Conner and Norman Polks that led to Mike deleting his twitter and to move to YouTube posts, until he got cornered with someone asking about some other mascot horror game called "Cakey's Twisted Bakery", in which there's a lot of evidence that points to the project being allegedly something from Mike and Meatly, in which he deleted most to all of his posts and turned off comments.

Mike's handling of anything has been the major issue for me, as it seems that doesn't seem to grasp the idea that a) Bendy has many factors that led to it's success and not just 1 or 2 people

and b) Actions have Consequences and you can't expect people to not react poorly when you state one thing and then do the complete opposite and try and cover up the past.

That isn't to say that the Meatly is clean for me; the fact he still hasn't acknowledged the Kindly Beast situation, let alone Mike's little piggyback with regard to the books and their canonicity, or other statements that Meatly could've easily nipped in the bud or clarified so people weren't stuck assuming, angers me in such a way because despite what anyone may think; not saying or doing anything, it is still doing something, and it's making things very loud and clear.

Do I still have love for Bendy, even with the owners and creators being the way they are?

Yes and no; I still love this silly little series that takes concepts of animation history with horror, and I love the friends I've made because of it, but I also am not going to actively cheer on or give money to the developers who don't understand the idea of 'burning bridges' or not understanding that their fan base, their voice actors, their former employees, and their collaborators have been doing most of the heavy lifting for their games.

It's not my priority to police or judge the fandom, nor is it something I really want to do. My goal is to just have the information out there, so people can make informed decisions to do what is imperative for them.

Do what you gotta do to make your piece of the internet good for you. If that means blocking folks or muting tags, then so be it.

[malfiora]

1. A Welcome Haunting

2. On Wax Wings

Day 3 of JTW! (Shhhh don't look at the date, just play pretend with me.)

Prompt (despite not using it once in the fic itself): coming of age

Tags: mentions of Catherine getting sick, nothing too graphic, young Jason, Jason is a kid, no capes AU

Also fair warning, this is starting to get into shippy territory (jaydick specifically). If that's not your jam, then leave now.

-----

3. Fledgling

Park Row Library is the one place the social workers don’t think to look for him, so in between brushing his mother’s hair, changing her sleep socks for compression socks, coaxing her to eat so she’s not taking pain medication on an empty stomach, and running to and from the pharmacy with a few nabbed grocery items stuffing his pocket, Jason ducks into the library and just breathes. It’s the only place he sees kids his own age these days, though usually they’re more interested in the comics and snickering over the adult romance novels to pay him much attention. 

No, instead it’s the librarians who mind him. They offer forbidden snacks and tiny smiles and gentle nods towards a new addition to the collection. He feels their eyes on his back when he weaves through the stacks but when he turns to look, they’re looking elsewhere, laser focused on their desktop screens or scolding a teenager or jotting down reference numbers for a patron. Eventually, the weight of their gaze settles across his shoulders like a shawl — a welcome change from the thick material of his father’s jacket.

The librarians don’t ask about the jacket. Even as temperatures climb and days stretch, they don’t ask. Jason knows he must stink, not just of stale sweat and pubescent hormones, no, but also of the secret his coat hides.

The mystery of Jason’s condition died when his mom got the diagnosis. After all, what good did fretting over Jason’s odd but ultimately harmless growths do when his mother’s immune system was killing her, organ by organ? What sense did it make to waste their doctor’s time with questions that had no answers when they had prescriptions to beg for? What help was it for Jason to attend school only to be sent home by the school nurse when, like clockwork, he complained of back pain so sharp he could barely walk when his mother hasn’t gotten out of bed since she lost her job?

No, Jason can wait. He can hold out until his mother recovers, he can learn to endure the pain long enough to hold a job that will feed and house them both, he can withstand the heat trapped under the collar of his jacket. He has to.

“Young man,” Miss Beverly says. Her voice is clear despite her perpetually hushed tone. Jason halts on his way to the classics and turns to her. Her pearlescent bifocals gleam under the ceiling light. She crooks a finger to beckon him over, so he approaches her desk. “I have a new collection,” she says, leaning over the desk conspiratorially. “I thought you might be interested.”

Jason nods. “What is it?”

“Fairy-tale anthologies from around the world.” She smiles broadly, her teeth also catching on the light, making her canines gleam. Jason supposes it’s fitting, given the fairy-tale talk. “And not that juvenile, everyone gets a happy ending droll, either. This is Andersen, Grimm, Cheng’en — you name it! Want to see?”

And she swings her arm wide, revealing the messy tower of tomes behind her. Jason walks around to the other side and watches her sort through them. This is the game they play: Miss Beverly arranges the books in order of what she thinks Jason would be intrigued by most, and he tells her to stop when his eye catches a title he cannot resist. Never once has Jason made it to the bottom. 

Jason passes over Aesop’s fables, a duology by Mary Shelley, Lang’s Fairy Books, and many more. As Miss Beverly reveals the seventh book, Jason’s heart stutters. “Stop!” he whisper-shouts.

Miss Beverly’s lips twitch into a smirk, and she lifts the book. “House of El publishing,” she reads. “That’s a new one.” And she hands it over to him.

It isn’t the publisher’s odd name that had caught Jason’s eye, but the title. It is embossed across the dust jacket in silver script. Jason runs his fingers over it: How Nightwing Catches the Flamebird.

The Flamebird. Flame. Bird. The words his father’s ghost had whispered to him months ago. There it is, above the image of fire in the shape of wings. 

Jason finishes the book in an hour. Despite the novelty of the fairy-tales, they are written like they are based on millennia-old legends. There are references to stories not between the book’s covers and an entire world built around the central characters. It feels like Jason is missing something, so he reads it again, and then a third time. What he gathers is this: Nightwing is the protagonist, the protector of the weak, and Flamebird is their companion, created to reveal deception. Justice and truth, says the author in the final pages of the book. But as Jason skims the tale of Flamebird’s third resurrection, another word takes root in his mind: justice and vengeance.

But what does it mean? That question rattles in his brain as he walks back to the apartment, the book tucked under his arm. And what does it mean for him? Is he…is he supposed to be Flamebird? Is that what his father had tried to tell him? 

Does that mean that Jason will die?

[mermaidsirennikita]

ARC REVIEW: Out of the Woods by Hannah Bonam-Young

4.5/5. Releases 1/28/25.

The Vibes:

—marriage in trouble

—camping! but this time with outdoor sex!

—nerd in the streets/freak in the sheets with his favorite brat

—good boy (a very good boy)

Heat Index: 7.5/10.

The Basics:

Together since they were fifteen and married since they were nineteen, Caleb and Sarah have hit a major rough patch—one she's not sure they can come back from. At a friend's suggestion, they embark on a camping retreat together. The question is: Can Sarah find her true identity while staying with someone who's loved her since she was a teenager?

The Review:

THIS IS WHY I LOVE MARRIAGE IN TROUBLE.

We met Sarah and Caleb as Win's stable couple friends in Out on a Limb (also highly recommend, though I may love this even more). They're perfect for each other—apparently. When we meet them here, about twoish years after the events of OoaL, they're at a crossroads. Caleb is successful and well-meaning; Sarah feels directionless and smothered. Basically, she's a housewife; and no amount of Caleb supporting her takes away from the fact that she feels like she's nothing individually.

What's clear from the start is that it's not that these two don't love each other. It's not even that they aren't into each other (I mean, they very much are, and the tension is HOT). But have they outgrown each other? Sarah wonders at the beginning of the book if it's realistic for two people who've been together since high school to make it forever. And... the prospect of them breaking up feels real. Because, while they're not always perfectly rational, they aren't super mean to each other, either. They just—especially Sarah—feel out of sync in a "this spells trouble" way.

BUT. While this is a deeply emotional novel, it's also a remarkably uplifting one, and quite fun. I mean, you're taking two indoor people, plunking them in the woods, and telling them they can't have sex (For Therapy) when they clearly want to devour each other. Again, the issue with the marriage is NOT a lack of physical chemistry. I also really enjoyed the supporting characters, all bopping around and having their own camping couples therapy fun times (this would make a good movie, me thinks).

Woven into the story are flashbacks that center on Caleb and Sarah: The Early Years, naturally, but also a defining part of Sarah's life... which is to say, the loss of her mother to ALS. Just want to give people a heads up—while the details aren't graphic, it's still sad to read. Sarah's relationship with her mother is so well-characterized (and such a great contrast to Caleb's aloof relationship with his living parents) and really put me in that mindset of like... Where would I be in Sarah's shoes? Probably more of a wreck, to be honest.

And I want to make it clear: This is a Romance. Capital R. But Bonam-Young, in this book and in OoaL, truly understands what makes the genre so good. It's not that every moment in the characters' lives is perfect or without conflict. They don't always make the best decisions. But the emotion, dude. The love. That comes through in such a true, tangible way.

The Sex:

SO GOOD. There isn't a ton of sex on the page (a couple of fully explicit scenes, plus some largely off the page flashback stuff) but what we get is well-written, full of detail and heat and passion, and such a great payoff.

Plus, the sex scenes in this novel truly feel unique to Caleb and Sarah and their relationship, which is not a guarantee in romance. We get a lot of brattiness and good boy. Caleb is a voyeur. I SO approve.

I also really liked how much casual intimacy, sexy and otherwise, is in this book. Caleb and Sarah really read as a long-term couple. There's a moment where she's deep in thought for several paragraphs, and then it's like, cut to Caleb lifting his head from between her legs like "You good?" This is why I love marriage in trouble (and second chance, for that matter). CASUAL. INTIMACY.

This is just a really good feel your feelings book, and I read it over the course of a couple sittings, basically. More of this in contemporary romance, please.

Thanks to Dell and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[icarus-suraki]

Got this as a reply ages ago on my Ao3 post:

Yes, even that story.

Ao3 is not a platform. Ao3 is an archive.

Okay, so, this story was definitely not for the you, commenter. That's all there is to it. Not every story is for every person. And that's just how it is. And it's okay. There's an old saying in librarianship: "Every book its reader; every reader, a book."

But rather than freaking out, maybe we ought to query why the creator wrote and posted that story.

Because if they wrote it with the intention to be shocking and transgressive, they clearly succeeded. You, commenter, are shocked and find the whole thing extremely transgressive. Conceptually, it's a bit like novels that say drugs are great. Or like any number of commercially published novels that take on graphic murders. Horror novels have some fucked up shit in them sometimes and people who enjoy exploring intense emotions and situations in a fictional context read those without engaging in those behaviors.

For the record, I read a lot of "transgressive" literature and I'm out in the world with a job and a place to live and an internet connection. Meanwhile, fans of Christian fiction can be some of the most vicious beasts I have ever encountered. Thoughts?

This particular example, though, is also interesting because it's like inverse zoophilia/zoosadism--the human is the victim here, somehow. Zooisms have been a hot topic in recent years--so does this story stir up personal reactions to that topic? Is that the intention? I'm not about to defend acting zoophiles/zoosadists because they're literally engaging in animal abuse. Like, that's a crime. (Was the dog in this story a German shepherd? It's always German shepherds for some reason with the zoos.)

Or is the concern that this is the author's kink? Because there's a lot of concern over kinks anymore and whether a kink is acceptable or whether kinks are acceptable at all. Who is this story for? Someone with a similar kink? Don't start on the "consuming porn leads to more porn and more violent porn until you're a sexually-motivated serial killer" line because that comes out of a Ted Bundy interview and we all know he was a consummate liar. Again: horror fans read some fucked up shit. Mystery novel fans read some fucked up shit, even if they say the "good ending" absolves them of that. And they're not killing people.

Engaging with an unusual interest or desire on a level removed from reality is a much safer way to engage with that interest than in reality. Fiction is not reality. Movies are not reality. Theater is not reality. BDSM is theater and theater is not reality. These are all things with a remove from reality, which lets one engage with an interest without harm to self or others.

I can guarantee you that there are stories just as, if not more, distressing to you, the commenter, in notebooks and computer files all over the world. They still exist though they aren't published. You don't have to have read a story like the above to find a socially dangerous interest like this. These things can arise in relative isolation. Source: I grew up before the internet became what it is now and I have seen some shit.

The fact that this particular story was posted online suggests a desire on the part of the author to share it. Why would they want to do that? To shock readers? To find people with similar desires? Publication/posting implies a desire for responses. Why do you think this story was written? Why do you think it was shared? Who is the intended audience?

I'm sorry this story upset you, commenter. It absolutely sucks to get blindsided by a story (or any kind of media) that you find upsetting. It's certainly happened to me and I didn't like it either. I have had a lot of religious anxiety for most of my life and getting surprised by Chick Tracts being left around in the bookstore where I worked was not a good time. So, yes, I sympathize.

But it's impossible to control what billions of humans are going to be saying, doing, writing, or interested in. You can't stop people from writing fucked up shit, as much as you would like to. The best thing you can do is create a system to alert others about what, if anything, might be distressing in a piece of media. This is why, if one is usual Ao3 like a lending library and not an archive, there are content warnings, age recommendations, and tags. You can't control what everyone else is doing, but you can and should protect yourself as much as necessary. And, yes, that does mean that you have to deal with things that you don't like existing in shared spaces in the world. You may have to work on coming to terms with that. And yes I am serious. I have had to do the same thing in my life.

Also I have a lot of questions. How did you find this story? Was it by accident or was it intentional? What was the story "about"? How was it written? Was it genuine or was it a troll? Was the dog cognitively on a level with a human? How canine/anthropomorphized was the dog in this story? Was this Scooby Doo fanfic? Was this werewolf fanfic? Are you concerned that dogs will read this story and go on to rape eleven year-olds?

So why would someone write a story in which an eleven year-old gets raped by their dog?

And, gang, I anonymized the commenter on purpose. Don't go seek them out.

[writergeekrhw]

hi!! i'm sorry if you've gotten similar questions before, but i'm very curious. i've thought about going into writing for television but i don't know where to start, and i also don't want to cross picket lines/scab. do you have any advice?

Well, picket lines aren't a problem anymore, so...

Learn - Watch your favorite shows and movies. Break them down into structure. You can outline as you watch. Scene, Time of Day, Actions, Who Says What. Read great books, consider taking a class on TV writing at someplace reputable online (UCLA Extension is really good). Read about basic screenplay structure and format.

Write - Write the following: 2 spec pilots, 1 episode of an established show that's currently on the air. Maybe a feature. (You probably should buy Final Draft at this point)

Apply for programs: There are studio writing programs that train writers. Getting into one of these can definitely help. Here's a list: Fellowship & Writing Programs for Screenwriters Masterlist — The Writers Guild Foundation (wgfoundation.org)

Keep writing. I had a teacher tell me it took 10 scripts to get good. Have you written 10 full scripts? If no, keep writing. If yes, keep writing.

Consider moving to Los Angeles. Los Angeles is where you can get work as a Writers P.A. or Assistant. That's how you'll get to know writers. It's much harder to do that if you're not in L.A. But also keep in mind that Los Angeles is a very expensive city and you'll probably have to work a civilian job to survive until you get a showbiz one and that it can cost $1500/month just for a room in a shared apartment. So... consider...

Network with peers. Network with fellow aspiring writers you meet in your classes/online/etc. Join a writers group. Be a great person. Help each other. Hopefully you and your peers will all rise together and you'll be able to help each other out once you start getting jobs.

Keep writing. Never stop writing new things.

Rise through the ranks. Hopefully you'll get a Writers P.A. job at some point. Be a good person. Work hard. Make a good impression. Get promoted to either Writers Room Assistant or Showrunner's Assistant. Have a show that goes multiple years. Have your boss (eventually, don't rush it) read your amazing sample which she'll hopefully love. Get a script assignment in a later season. Write an amazing script. Have show go ANOTHER season, get promoted to Staff Writer. CONGRATULATIONS! You've made it.

Keep going. You need to continue to get promoted and staffed for multiple seasons to have a stable career and even then, it'll never stop being a hustle.

ALTERNATIVE PATH: Write the most amazing novel/play/youtube thing/graphic novel/podcast ever and have that optioned into a series and insist on being on staff as a condition of sale.

WARNING: Results are not guaranteed. The odds are NOT in your favor. Try at own risk. Los Angeles is expensive and breaks people. It can take 5-10 years from first script to first job. Or never. Abandon Hope All Ye Who Enter Here. Objects in the Rearview Mirror are Farther Away Than They Appear. Read about Survivorship Bias before taking any showbiz advice from anyone.

[katrani]

2025 Books: Arcanum Unbounded

Another anthology! This one was.... much worse to get through, unfortunately. Started strong with Emperor's Soul, but after that....

So I love strong world-building. I love Mistborn's characters, I'll rotate half of the Stormlight characters in my mind so often. With the asterisk of it being a first book from someone of Sanderson's background, I find Elantris fairly charming; that is I see the problems, but I can roll with them based on latent strengths on display. I should have liked this book as a whole!

I really found most of it a chore.

Emperor's Soul is fucking great, I adore stories about how people are affected by those around them, and what determines personhood, it's just. Free buy-in from me. On top of that, Shai is super compelling, love her dilemma over her personal stamps. And the whole thing is based around theft/conning? Fuck yeah fuck yeah.

Hope of Elantris left me feeling that I should've revisited Elantris before picking this up, I'll chalk any weirdness about that one to my lack of memory.

The first two Mistborn stories are fine, I did laugh at the gimmick of Allomancer Jak.

And then there's Secret History. Fucking hell, Secret History. I should have liked this! More context for what was happening in the background of Mistborn's second and third books, some time with Kelsier again, both great. Except. Except!!!!!!! Kelsier's a con man. He can fight sure, but most of his oomph comes from being able to manipulate people and be a leader. So Sanderson writes a like 100+ page story where 90% of the time Kelsier's on his own??? what the fuck I was so bored. SO BORED. The characters he does get to interact with feel like a lot of the "visitor" interludes in Stormlight, where it's just. The author going "here's stuff I know that you don't, hope you keep with me for the next 20 years" (I like when Stormlight has the interludes with other characters for the setting, it really does make it feel properly apocalyptic, I like seeing some cameos doing silly stuff like hiring some dudes to yoink artifacts. I do not like the sense of cameos being built up to be a major piece in the ongoing story, either make room for them to be proper PoVs or cut them)

I really hope White Sand works better as a full graphic novel cause I could not get into either the except for the written portion/"script". Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell was fine, a little too edgy of a setting for my liking but Silence is amazing, love her, loved her PoV, loved the reveal at the end and how it tied into both the rumors around her place and the grief she's got. However.... Both Shadows... and Sixth of Dusk feel very appropriative to me. LIke, you're gonna run into some in diverse settings by majority/prominent/hegemonic demographic writers, just by incident and because appropriation vs diverse influences can be slightly grey. But Shadows..., with the author's note saying where he got the rules from, and Sixth are just... you didn't even try to work these into being influences, you're just grabbing stuff and using it whole and using it with other details that make it feel stereotyped and it felt kinda gross to people named Kat who are me.

Which already had me in a bad mood about the whole thing and then we get to Edgedancer and W O W do I want to like Lift but she feels like she's written to be a Manic Pixie Dream Girl type, and that did not get better with the note of "she'll have had some development by the time she's in the main series, so I wanted to show where she started". Like. Why. She's absolutely gonna show up and be the weird quirky one that someone latches onto because she's just so weird you guys and I am not here for it. At all. Did like Stump and the guard captain and the scribes tho, give me their perspectives on all this world shattering. Also like the city itself, this sense that there are a few places that could weather the nonsense, it'll just be a question of logistics for the people there.

Overall just. A rough set of stuff, made less enjoyable by the fact that it's a few longer pieces instead of shorter snippets so I had to stick with the things I didn't like, it seemed. Also made it clear that there's a sweet spot for Sanderson's writing for me, where we've got time with both the story and the character. Dropping into a middle (Secret History) or needing to get it done in 50-75 pages (Sixth of Dusk) just don't work.

[internetgiraffekid1673]

Giraffe's EAH Ship Tier List!!!

Here's how this is gonna work! We've got a lot to cover, and I don't want this post to get massive, so I'll do them one at a time under the tag #giraffe's eah ship tier list!

Before we get to ANY of the ships, let's start with the tiers

Soulmates or S tier is for the best of the best! They spark interesting plots and character interactions, there's lots of evidence to support that it could happen, and I personally love them! This does not mean they are healthy or canon (or even likely in canon), it just means I find them to have the best stories!

They're Cute or A tier is for ships that are good but not great. I usually really like these ships, there's just some nitpicks I have that keeps me from putting it in soulmates.

I Can See It is ships that have a lot of potential, but either aren't as interesting as the A tier ships, or involve so much headcanon to make them interesting that I can't justify putting them higher.

Giraffe's Shame Zone is for ships involving characters that I don't know well enough to rank. I have read every Suzanne Selfors book, Every Shannon Hale book except Shadow High, the Class of Classics graphic novel, watched the whole show twice, all the specials three times, and I have read half the diaries. I created this due to one specific request, and I hope that is the only one I will have to use it for.

Better Platonically is for a ship that has a lot of good potential, but I think shipping them makes their relationship worse not better. I find that they have better stories to tell when you put their relationship in a different context.

Not for Me is for ships that I don't like. I can understand where you're coming from, but it just really doesn't do anything for me at all (I will make people mad with this one).

No is ships that I think are actively bad. They derail other good storylines in favor of making both characters less interesting and have little to add of their own. There should not be very many here, but I suspect I will put at least one of the requests in this tier.

[greatqueenanna]

Lost Legends: The Fixer Upper

A GreatQueenAnna Review

Released: October 17, 2023

Type: Series

Age Range: 8 - 12 years

Audience Score: 4.4/5

My Score: 3.8/5

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With the films focusing their attention on the sisters, sometimes Kristoff can feel like a side-character more than a tritagonist. So, hearing that Kristoff was getting a whole novel to himself, and exploring a bit of his past, I was of course excited for this book.

Overall, it was a cute story that gave us a much needed glimpse into Kristoff's childhood, with some themes being very compelling. There were some things that were a bit strange and the story does tend to move a bit slow, but overall it is very nice side content for Frozen fans. I can only hope that Kristoff continues to get more content in the future (especially within the films) that explore even more.

More in depth review under the cut.

The Fixer Upper seems like a more expansive version of the Disney Frozen: The Hero Within graphic novel by Joe Caramagna. Both stories feature Kristoff's difficulty within the orphanage, even Gustav comes in to play a major role. I do enjoy catching all of the connections made within the novel canon - it really makes it feel like the authors do indeed care about creating a coherent universe, even if the novels are not 100% part of the film's world.

The story begins with the family playing charades during game night. Kristoff is compelled to tell the story of his experiences as a child within 'human' school. However, his story first starts with Kristoff explaining to the sisters and Olaf how he met Sven and left the orphanage at 8 years old, and his relationship with Tor - his ice harvesting mentor.

After a few instances of the narrative going back and forth from the story to present day, we time skip to Kristoff going to school at 12 years old and then the instances of present day become less occurring, and the story becomes a bit more focused.

The narrative focuses on Kristoff trying to figure out where he belongs - with humans, or with trolls. He struggles to fit in with the humans, and he feels as though because he is not a troll, that the trolls don't' want him around as much anymore.

This is actually the most interesting part of the story for me - I understand how Kristoff feels as a mixed-ethnic person. Feeling like you don't belong in either part of your family or heritage because the other side of you is "in the way. " Kristoff couldn't get along with other humans because he was raised by trolls, but also felt he didn't belong with the trolls because he was human. This is incredibly compelling.

I really like the style of how at the beginning of every chapter, we get a quote from the The Ice Harvester's Guide to Ice and how the quote seems to match the scene. It was a very nice touch.

One this that was disappointing was how it seems that the Ice Harvesters are not specifically tied to being Sámi - even though this was alluded to in Dangerous Secrets. Unless I missed it (which is possible, my ADHD is all over the place when reading anything, especially novels), there were no references at all to Kristoff being Sámi or a fictional equivalent, like the Northuldra. Now, I know that this is probably not something the writers are allowed to delve into, but it would've been nice if a small reference was made - like in Dangerous Secrets.

Another thing that was a bit weird was how Grand Pabbie tells Kristoff that one of the reasons they were adamant on him going to 'human' school was so that he could meet his true love. Why would a 12 year old need to be told that he needs to interact with humans so that in the future he can meet a girl? He's 12. I get that the trolls are love experts, and this is meant to be a foreshadowing of his relationship with Anna...but come on. Again. He's 12.