#and just blame Jimmy

[masterblooky]

I think it’s funny that Lizzie and Mumbo have been first out consecutively ??? It’s like they’re being punished by fate for sitting out two games in a row

I still believe it’s possible for Lizzie to win!! Putting all my on money jizzie. It has to be one of them please please

[linkcharacter]

What is your interpretation of the blood and ladder thing? Like, did Curly really see that at the time? Is it a way to convey his anxiety? Is it how he remembers the moment?

As I see it, I'm treating it the same as Jimmy's, as their subconscious and state of mind depicted and visualized for players in a cool asf way. It's a creative and visually impactful way to tell the story, the characters' thoughts and what's going on in their mind. Therefore I'm willing to accept that it is actually something Curly 'felt' in the moment. Up to you to interpret how vivid or conscious he was of it happening, it is simply where his mind was at.

Same question can be asked about all of Jimmy's mindfuckery too, with no clear indication on whether or not, (for example) he actually thought he was being hunted by a long ass horse while searching for mouthwash for Daisuke. If we accept, that Jimmy's walk in the Polle corridor after crashing the ship was what he 'felt' while sitting on the floor head in hands, If we don't doubt, that the judgement and other encounters are something that's representing Jimmy's mind state, then I don't think there's reasons to doubt Curly's too (and vice versa). It does blur a line between in-game reality and metaphorical symbolism shenanigans tomfoolery to the player and I think that's the point. It's for the story.

The vision itself comes out as extremely foreshadowy but it's something that's been on his mind. It is Curly having an existential crisis about the career ladders that reach above the Ocean Of Blood, with him "reaching the top" and safe from drowning in it. It is Curly's subconscious screaming at him about the danger in the cockpit, how he keeps on walking "ignoring all warning signs". This sequence implies so much, especially if we assume or consider that Curly has been aware of what Anya told him for a gooood while. Anticipating the doom Jimmy will bring with him by walking into the giant star (that, by the way, locks your camera on it, unable to turn away) that is leading into the cockpit where Jimmy is seated. Because that's literally what happens, Curly walks into the cockpit and gets incinerated later, because of Jimmy and Curly's own negligence and compliance. Feeling helpless in the wake of an inescapable gravitational pull is how Curly felt (whether he actually was helpless is up to debate, but it is how he saw it). He may have know OF the dead pixel but ignored it, as the warning signs were there but kept on acting like it wasn't a big deal. Until the deadly star that grew out of it consumed him.

[raffi-cat]

i've been thinking about ranchers a lot lately

[sastielsfandom]

AU where Sam works in the family business, the pizza family business. He was pulled back into it when their Dad disappeared on them, nearly tanking the business. Sam tries to balance his college life and helping with the business, but finds himself being pulled further and further from his own life. It's not all bad though. He did miss his mom and his brother. And maybe the guy that comes in every Thursday and Sunday for a slice on Thursday, and a box on Sunday gives Sam something to look forward to.

 He's awkward and never catches onto Dean's jokes or pop cultural references no matter what they are. He's sarcastic and has incredibly dry humor for the most part, but occasionally, he's just a dork. He knows it'll never happen, especially because he's certain he's a married man with a child. A daughter. So, yes. He makes sure he's the one who takes the man's order, even though it's the same thing and it's already prepared in the back. Something both parties know but will stop and talk for a bit. Sam's only goal in every conversation is to make him smile, obsessed with how the man's eyes crinkle when he smiles and laughs. Sam glanced at the time and noticed it was just about time for Castiel to come in, and when the door opened, Sam's eyes flew to the door.

And in walked his favorite regular, and behind him was a little girl tugging at his coat, and a woman. Sam's smile fell off his face until Castiel's eyes met his. He forced a smile, it was one thing to know it wasn't going to happen. And another to be confronted by it. "Hello, Sam." Sam hoped his smile didn't look like a grimace, "Hey, Cas." He looked down at the young girl, "You must be Claire." She tilted her head, and it reminded Sam of Castiel, despite himself he found himself smiling at how cute she was, "You know my name?" She glance behind her, "He knows my name, mom." She laughed, "It seems so."

Sam gestured for them to come over and Claire climbed onto a chair, "I do know your name, someone," Sam looked at Castiel who shrugged, "Has told me all about you." She looked at him, "Wait, is he Sam?" Castiel nodded, "He is, and he makes the best pizza ever." Which was apparently, Dean's cue, "Excuse you, he's just the pretty face up here that takes the orders. I'm the one in the back making them. For the most part, my mom also makes them, but this guy? He stays up front."

Sam rolled his eyes, "I do all the prep and clean up, and take orders because someone, isn't good with the customers." Dean scoffed, "I'm great with customers, I know him and his order." Sam gave him a look, "Because you like to argue with him." Dean shrugged, "It takes two to argue." Claire looked at Castiel, "And that's Dean." Castiel nodded, "Yep, that's Dean." Dean glanced down at the kid, and back at Castiel, "Claire?" She nodded, "Keep giving him a hard time, it's funny."

Sam kicked him and Dean's lips tightened as he pretended he didn't even notice it, "Anyways, I'm going to go back and make pizza or whatever. While Sammy gets to chitchat." Sam rolled his eyes, "He's going to go tell our mom that you're here." The door opened again and Sam felt as if he was seeing double, "Sorry, it took a moment to find parking. Did I miss anything?" Sam looked at Castiel confused, "You’re a twin?" Castiel nodded, "I mentioned my brother, Jimmy." Sam nodded, "Yes, brother. Twin? Never."

Jimmy rolled his eyes, "Castiel has a bad habit of not explaining the smaller details. Like I'm his twin, he just expects people to know." Sam nodded, and looked back to see his mother walking out, "The whole family?" She asked Castiel and he nodded, "Yes, hello, Mary." She smiled and waved, "Hey, Cas. Have you placed your order yet?" He shook his head, "Not yet, just greetings." She nodded, "Something tells me it's still being worked on nonetheless." Mary shrugged, "Maybe."

"So, who is who?" Mary asked, and Claire piped up, "I'm Claire, you know my Uncle Cas, this is my mom and dad." Mary waved at them all, "Hi, Claire, Jimmy and Amelia, correct?" They all nodded, and Mary patted herself on the back, "Not bad for the chef who is always in the back. Speaking of which, I sadly have to go back. But it was lovely meeting you all." "You too!" Came a chorus from Claire and her parents. Sam had watched the exchange, and had heard some very important distinctions. Jimmy held a hand out to Claire, "Let's get a table and let Cas catch up with his friend." Claire took the hand, "Boyfriend if he ever asked him out." Claire muttered, and Jimmy glanced up at Castiel who looked just as taken aback. He mouthed a sorry, and Sam at least pretended he was busy wiping the counter and as if he didn't hear that.

Castiel stared down at the floor, and Sam tapped his fingers along the counter, "Um, tonight's on us, as a gift for finally meeting your family." Sam said, and Castiel glanced up and shook his head, "That's not necessary, I can pay." Sam smiled, "I know, but we're not accepting any money from you tonight. Your usual is already being made." Castiel sighed, "I can't get freebies, Sam. Not from your family." Sam shrugged, "Look, my mom would kill me if I made you guys pay tonight, between you and me, I like living." Castiel laughed, "I like you living too, so I suppose I'll refrain from paying tonight. Only tonight." Sam nodded, "And maybe I don't want you to pay on Saturday."

Castiel tilted his head, "I don't come in on Saturdays." Sam smiled, "I don't either. My only day off. And yours, if my memory serves me correctly." Castiel nodded, "I get the weekend off," he confirmed, Sam smiled, "Well, I was planning on going to the park at noon, stop by the lake and have a picnic." Castiel nodded, as Sam continued, "And I'll gladly back enough for two if you're interested in joining me." Castiel's eyes widened, "Like a date?" Sam laughed, "Yes, like a date."

Castiel nodded, "Yes, I will be there. At noon. I feel like we should exchange numbers." Sam nodded, and pushed forward a napkin that had his digits already on it. "I'll bring over the pizza when it's ready, I think Claire is waiting for her Uncle." Castiel glanced back to see Claire staring at them, waving Castiel over, he nodded and glanced back at Sam, "Saturday." Sam nodded, "Saturday."

Dean waltzed over as Castiel left the counter, "Told you he didn't have a kid." Sam gave him a look, "Would you stop eavesdropping?" Dean shook his head, "Absolutely not, especially because it makes me right all the time." Sam rolled his eyes, "You're not even right half the time, but sure." Dean shrugged, "I'm right about the things that matter. Like my brother's annoying crush he could've asked out ages ago." Sam shooed him away, "You're one to talk, how's Cassie?" Dean frowned, "Hey, low blow man." Sam rolled his eyes, "She likes you, just ask her out." Dean rolled his eyes, "And screw up immediately so she never talks to me again, no thanks." Sam shook his head, "So much confidence in yourself, huh?" Dean waved him off, "Maybe one day. Just not now, not when she has so much on her plate." Sam shrugged, "Could help having someone in her corner." Dean pretended Sam didn't have a point and instead focused on making pizza. That's a thought for himself as he falls asleep and chews Sam out for being right. 

[adorablegorilla]

I might be in the minority but I think the narrative of Mourwashing is more impactful if Anya DIDN'T directly tell Curly what Jimmy did. Not that I think Curly and the rest of the crew didn't know - quite the opposite - I just think that it would have made it easier to pretend nothing was wrong. It would reinforce the central theme, that capitalism's "work culture" forces everyone, even the victim, into silence and complacency.

Curly knew. Swansea knew. Anya knew. Jimmy knew. But until Anya's pregnancy was revealed, they were all able to at some level ignore the truth. I suspect that's the real driving force behind Jimmy's mental breakdown - he could no longer ignore the reality of what he did, and so constructed a narrative in his mind where he was the only one NOT at fault, and in fact was "the hero." He tries to reframe his lashing out as acts of selflessness, or at least self-defense, until everyone else is dead and all he can do is make empty promises to "fix things."

Daisuke may have been the closest to being truly ignorant of the situation but I suspect even he had an idea of what happened that he pushed deep down, not wanting to believe that a co-worker - and a man he looked up to - could do something like that.

[kae-eee]

i’ll never get over how curly pulled strings to get his rapist homie a job at pony express even though i KNOW he knows his friend, and he damn sure knew jimmy had mental issues, legal trouble in the past from what i usually assume is stuff similar to what he did to anya, and on some level knew he was an unsafe person to keep on the ship all because he wanted to see the best in him.

[ponyrepress]

I think we need to blow up the mouthwashing tag on every social media site

Solid fucking agree 🚬🐴

[dykedvonte]

I think Curly being fired a long with the rest of the crew even with the recommendation still invokes he did not get what he wanted through that.

Curly was feeling unfulfilled at work and in his career, yes. He was considering quitting along with sticking it out cause it’s what he’s known and feel secure in, even if not satisfied. You think getting fired would be a great thing for him, that’s a part of Jimmy’s scathing thought process and twisting of the cock pit conversation. However, the most important aspect is that Curly got to make that final decision for himself.

Curly does not get to decide if he’s actually ready to take that step and branch out and it likely worsened whatever was spinning in his head into a spiral because now he has to think of what he’s gonna do. It can’t wait and I believe his misplaced idea of Curly in telling the crew was his way of not invoking the same feeling within them. For him to be able to sit on it for months while they couldn’t, it was not fair the same way it isn’t fair to assume he would wanted that as an excuse to leave piloting.

It’s good to note that no one really got to fully choose what they wanted to do. Just a whole lot of reactions…. And inactions.

[formerheroeswhoquittoolate]

hey quick question. who told shang chi that lie was dead. was it ami? I feel like ami would have done it herself. she was there, and shang-chi was the closest to him. going with her to korea seems like something shang-chi would do. be there for her if it's true, be there to take her out if it's not. and they're both. hm. they're not super similar but they're more alike than any of the other agents. spies. killers, even, at one point in their lives. used to kicking ass and keeping secrets. composed and rational. leaders guides guardians. et cetera. they don't interact much canonically and I think that's at least a little on purpose. not that they'd butt heads -- they're both too highly trained for that -- but they see each other in a way the other agents of atlas don't. they recognize something in each other. what that something is I'm not sure. I think it'd be really interesting to watch them mourn together because they're not close. and also because they both blame themselves but that's neither here nor there.

[latestageyouth]

just finished mouthwashing. when will the devs pay for my therapy bill btw?

[c1trvswurld]

Arms tonite is so jimcurly coded actually

[shadyvoidhologram]

I was laying in bed overthinking, as you do, and started to go on a depressive doom spiral. And then, to distract myself I started thinking about the things I like.

[Spoilers and some gross details incoming, you know what Mouthwashing is about]

So, eventually I started thinking about Curly being in a similar headspace as I was, laying down, incapable of doing anything, constantly in pain and hearing time and time again how quickly things are going to shit and that it's all your fault.

Him replaying his mistakes over and over on his head, imagining the many ways things could've gone a different way if only he had done something instead of ignoring the issues to "keep the peace".

Remembering every interaction that led to the accident, Anya's confession, his friends poorly disguised resentment, him ignoring and filtering details of his crew's mental state, her taking the gun, the notice, Jimmy.

Him being a coward and disguising his hate of confrontation with the guise of being a good friend.

And then comming back to reality, to is burning flesh. To the blood, shit and bile staining the bandages, robe and bed, to watching and hearing his friends suffer and die, unable to do anything.

When the kid dies, in the midst of all the emotional chaos, he feels some sick sense of relief knowing that probably Swansea will deal with both of them quickly and it'll be over at last.

Then Jimmy finds the gun.

And he can't help but laugh. He remembers the conversation they had and he cackles bitterly because not even in death can her wishes be respected. She trusted him and he failed her even after she was gone.

Soon enough it's just the two of them left.

Through muffled ears he hears Jimmy rambling, talking to himself, asking questions and answering right after, he sees him moving the bodies around. When Jimmy carries him from the infirmary to the common room table he's still as stone, not a sound leaves his mouth, he doesn't look at the bodies thrown on the chairs around the table, he doesn't even breathe.

But all of Jimmy's attention, hatred, idolatry, and envy are on him only. Eyes glossy, cut pieces of a one sided conversation and a tentative smile on his lips when he reaches for the slightly dented knife.

He screams until his lungs close and his throat burns. When he's fed parts of himself he cries and throws up until he is forced to swallow and keep it down.

He's dehidrated, half delirious from the blood loss and emotionally checked out when Jimmy picks him up and tells him they can still fix this, he knows what to do. That he's going home.

Sure, he thinks, he wants to go home.

When he's placed on the cryopod he just stares at Jimmy talk to himself at him some more, about being heroes and everything being all right now. Then he steps out of sight.

It's on the silence after the loud bang when his brain starts working again, he's completely and utterly alone on a crashed ship of a company that's closing it's doors, with a now depleted shipment that wasn't even important enough to guarantee a search party, and no way of fending for himself in the case of 20 years passing and no one coming, even less if the power gave out before that.

As the cryopod finally starts to cool, the few tears he has left fall from his remaining eye.

He hopes he doesn't wake up to see what happens next.

..ok see y'all when I wake up-

[cyberoticism]

honestly i think my only beef w mouthwashing and why it didnt hit for me is i was bored by the fixation on jimmy and curly. its a game abt anyas assault but shes barely in the game at all. her trauma is a prop to explore these male chracters complex relationship which i get yes is to illustrate how people enable harm doers and abusers but like. i dont rlly care that curly enabled jimmy bc he liked him and they were BFFsFL u kno like. their story was boring. anya didnt feel like a person and ahe didnt feel nearly as fleshed out as the others. i kept forgetting her name and calling her shelly duvall but a lot of her story happens off screen. which isnt to say i wanted her assault on screen its more to say why isnt she anything outside of her trauma? shes not nearly as humanized or fleshed out as the others and we r fixated on the abuser and whats going thru his mind and how the other men enabled him to go as far as he did. i think that we couldve even had a meaningful narrative about that while still treating anya like a human and still letting her be more of a character and less of a prop to talk abt sexual assault. am i making sense???

[dynamitekansai]

Via Solo Sikoa's Instagram Stories

[mychanicalbrides]

joining a community just for every single person in it to ignore the story of rape culture and to instead babygirl-ify another middle aged man

[drlancaster]

I don't think I could handle knowing my entire crew thinks that it's my fault they're stranded and left for dead on an asteroid while I'm completely bedridden and reliant on them to survive and unable to say anything in my defense