#huzzah! logic!

[antikittysocial]

forsaken au where the survivors get swapped all around so restless now does builderman's job and he's either being a femboy furry or a protogen while doing this shit /silly

(There's a pack of /j for a reason)

if restless gets builderman's abilities...

comprehensive version:

restless gets builderman's abilities

builderman gets shedletsky's abilities

shedletsky gets gambling and a gun

chance gets hacks

007n7 gets another burbur

noob gets explosives

taph can punch now

guest 1337 works at builder brother's pizzeria

elliot gets dusekkar's abilities

dusekkar gets two time's abilities

and two time gets restless' abilities.

[ponyt4il]

sometimes i interact (if you could call it that, truly it’s they see me) w biggies in fandoms and then i’ll see their opinions of my opinions subtly in things they post …and i enjoy it very mach.

[cursedcola]

Prompt: “I Lived Bitch” <- You send them a text message of an an image. Said image is a headshot of you with bandages around your head, a couple of bruises on your face, and the staple cheeky peace sign to tie it all together. Context Varies. Fandom: Twisted Wonderland Characters: Overblot Homies Format: TEXT.IMG + Bullets.

Parts: (Riddle, Leona, Azul, Jamil) (Here) , (Vil, Idia, Malleus) Masterlist: Link A/N: Saw some of these floating around and thought the text format would be good for some mixed scenarios <3. Sorry they’re not all in one. Tumblr has a picture limit. Edit: HUZZAH I have discovered a way to put more images. Less parts hehe.

A gradual spiral. Riddle isn’t one to dwell until order is disrupted. He initially thinks you’re off causing mischief with Ace and Deuce - already preparing for whatever comes.

When they arrive on their own, knowing nothing about you? He’s uncomfortable. When Grim struts in on his own, he’s concerned. When Crewel stops him saying that you missed half your classes and didn’t have any absentee excuse? He’s panicking.

The controlled type of panic where it feels like that first month of Sophomore year all over again. Grim’s already earned a collar. How could he not know where his prefect is? The Headmaster is irresponsible surely, but you were a good student. Riddle wouldn’t partner with someone unable to uphold their basic responsibilities.

Riddle was one hour short of marching to Crowley’s office, because perhaps it was STYX scenario again and he wasn’t having a repetition.

You finally respond when he’s desperately trying to study - he wasn’t going to sacrifice his schedule.

Which gets forgotten regardless. He leaves the books abandoned (not that he could get past one page without drifting) and speed walks to the clinic. That anxious red poking out from his collar, heels smacking against marble. It’s rare for him to ever walk with his head in a screen - such a thing is rude, but his eyes are glued as he turns each corner.

He’s not happy you chose to downplay the situation. Considering his history with medicinal magic, Riddle’s already bombarding the nurse for your medical report once he enters. Then he sits silently at your bedside, flipping through the clipped papers. The occasional scoff turns to a tick in his jaw when reading the incident report.

Cave in of the Ramshackle stairwell? Looks like he’s having a word with the Headmaster after all.

Unlike Riddle, there’s an instant agitation with this one. Call it the princely charm of wanting instant responses.

Also. You don’t ignore him for silly reasons. When you say that you’re meeting him somewhere, you do. Same for Leona. He might gripe but he always shows up.

So he doesn’t need to wait. There’s already a nagging feeling in his stomach after the first twenty minutes pass.

He’s logical. Knows all your spots. Knows your schedule and would honestly even text Azul (if you’re working that day). Pain in the ass, but he’ll do it.

So first instinct is to do a play-by-play of the past week in his head. Look for any reason you might be pissed or too ‘busy’ to hold your plans. When he comes up empty, he’ll strut up to the little frosh table. Stir some anxiety with a glare or whatever, which gets serious when no one has any idea where you’re at. Not even the little weasel.

Any longer and he might’ve gone to Rook. We all know how Leona feels about Rook, but he’s the best when it comes to tabbing someone.

Your text comes during Spelldrive practice. He’s standing on his broom, looking over the field, arms crossed and agitated with the TWST equivalent of a bluetooth headset in his ear.

Dips out so fast. 0mph to roughly 50 after waving Ruggie to finish without him. Flies right out the practice court, overhead main campus, and outside the infirmary. Not in the mood to deal with the nurse or any of that crap. Comes in through the window.

Pissed. Pissed he didn’t think to check here, and pissed he should’ve had to. Did you learn nothing from the Spelldrive tournament? Broomwork isn’t easy, and not meant for two people unless someone with strong magic can support it.

Wants to know which idiot let you fall, but he’s been on edge all day. He can grill it out of you later. Scoot over and make room, he’s owed his mid-day nap. No. He’s not sleeping in a free bed. The scent of antibacterial spray is shanking his nose, so he needs yours to mask it.

In truth he is NOT okay. He’s very pissed and doesn’t sleep a wink. How could he? Pulls the curtain around your bed and flops over you with his tail curled around your leg. Hurts? Tough luck. Don’t pull a stunt like that ever again.

Azul is tweaking out - just so you know. First out of panic and then for the little sweettalk - even if he asked for it

Already used to you getting knocked over the head - Floyd's a bit too rough for his liking when swinging ya around, but what can he do?

Amidst packing up his belongings in a rush, the VIP lounge's empty so he can skidadle along like he normally would when alone. The moment the picture loads, he's honestly glad you texted vs. video call since it's easier to feign that cocky attitude of his via message.

Despite sassing you about the twins - he's a bit miffed you'd think for a moment he isn't coming himself. If anything to get the story from word-of-mouth vs. whatever Jade's going to relay.

Speaking of, oh look - one of the lounge couches is already set up to accommodate one injured prefect. A light meal and some tea too. Floyd's itching for a squeeze, but the most you get is a rough toss on the cushion before Azul's got him in one of those rare gridlocks where Floyd backs down. Did you think he couldn't? Octopi are freaking strong.

Rather than be outwardly miffed, he's already regained his composure during his walk to the infirmary.

So...you fell while trying to get an overhead shot of campus for the newspaper? And you were just...given access? To one of the high towers? You. A student without a broom or ability to cast a safeguard charm.

....Hmm. Someone gave you access? Curious. Only Professors are allowed to hand out access passes. Sounds a bit 'fishy' but he's satisfied. Looks like Floyd might get to play after all.

....oh he's not mad, he's just disappointed (ouch)

He's too busy to sit and worry over where you're at. Jamil trust (ed) that as the only other mildly-sane person at this school, you'd make educated decisions

Okay. That's a lie. You're not sane, but he accepted as much when he begrudgingly fell for said insanity...damn hearts and their lack of logic

Honestly? He was shocked you put him as an emergency contact. Flattered even. Until the simmering frustration began to boil - because of course you went of campus. Of course you took the trolly down to the Isle shops, and of course you got hit by a car trying to stop Grim from running across the street (he saw a sushi shop and bolted).

Of course Jamil can't just go on his own. He has to finish his tasks, get permission, and using the carpet means telling Kalim. Which will then lead to him getting worked up and lo behold it is an event now.

At least using the Al Asim name gets the permission granted without a fuss...Jamil just wants to see that you're okay in person for himself...and also lay into you for being reckless. No holding back.

Hah. Haha. -_-

Don't try getting out of this by acting cute with the little 'i love you' and grabby hands once he gets there. He's not that soft-hearted...yet. Jamil has his principles.

Kalim might jump off and barrel in past medical professionals without thinking twice. Jamil will do his casual glance-over, speak with the nurses, and pull up a chair once he realizes you won't be let go until morning. Great. Now it's just you three stuck in a small hospital room (Kalim got ya booted up to a private stay) as some strange impromptu sleepover.

Just...give him a bit. Wait for Kalim to pass out on the spare cot and then he'll stop looking so emotionally repressed. Believe it or not, he'd trade places with you in a heartbeat if he could.

Not because he feels obligated, but because getting the 'hey, your partner is off in a clinic miles away' call during his normal schedule was a heart attack Jamil wasn't prepped for.

He thought the worst news could be that you'd gone home without saying anything. Somehow? This was nearly on par. 90% on par.

[watarfallar]

BREAKING NEWS: Blonde bird boy and shirtless robot with a bee on a lead have me in a choke-hold!

Scar: What are amphetamines? Grian: Drugs that can go on land and water. Scar: Ohhhh.

Scar: What’s your favorite color? Grian: Stop asking stupid questions. Ask me something logical and mature. Scar: How many moles of sodium bicarbonate are needed to neutralize 0.8ml of sulfuric acid at STP? Grian: My favorite color is pink.

Scar: How do you want your coffee? Grian: Black, like my soul. Scar: Scar: Grian, your soul is a latte.

Grian: There's nothing to do…. Scar: You can wash the dishes you promised to wash about a week ago. Grian: pulls out their phone Nevermind.

Grian: Do you even have a plan? Scar: This is the plan! I break you out, chaos, destruction, something something something, we win! Grian: Oh, of course, the old “something something something we win”. That’s a terrible plan!

Scar: I am 39 cheetos tall. Grian: Why… are you measuring your height in cheetos? Scar: Because we're out of doritos.

Scar: Life is like Grian. It's short.

Scar: I’d kill someone if you asked me to. Grian: I’m pretty sure you’d kill someone even if I didn’t ask you to.

Grian: If I die first, promise to wait up for me, okay, Scar? Scar: Oh, Grian. When I die, I’m taking you with me. Grian: I can’t tell if that’s a threat or a compliment. Scar: I’d think of it more as a grim inevitability.

Grian: Did you win? Or just not die? Grian: Either way, hooray. Scar: …Is "no" a valid answer? Grian: The hooray is redacted and you frighten me.

Scar: Help, someone at prom has been killed! Grian: Calm down, we don't need you to Panic! At the Disco.

Scar: How are you gonna carve a gigantic pumpkin? Grian: The same way I make onion rings! Grian: grabs a chainsaw

Grian: Scar, you're an asshole, man. Scar: You are what you eat Grian.

Scar: So, you lied to me? Grian: That depends on how you define lying. Scar: Well, I define it as not telling the truth. How do you define it? Grian: Um, reclining your body in a horizontal position?

Grian: "Go hang a salami" backwards is "I'm a lasagna hog". Scar: How did either of those sentences occur naturally for you to discover this?

Scar: Seriously, Grian, how many people would you have killed if we’d asked you to? Grian: That’s not important Scar: I DISAGREE.

Scar: Come on, Grian! How any times do I have to apologize? Grian: Once! Scar: …No.

Grian: I called you like ten times! Why didn’t you pick up? Scar: remembers dancing to the ringtone Scar: I didn’t hear it.

Grian: Scar, if you don't shut up I'm going to throw myself out of the car. click Grian: DID YOU JUST TURN THE FUCKING CHILDRENS' LOCK ON?!

Scar: Who's in charge here? Grian, shrugging: Usually whoever yells the loudest.

Grian: If this plan goes down the drain, where should we regroup? Scar: The afterlife, I guess.

Scar: Would anyone know any good vendors for professional-quality brass knuckles? Grian: I know you’re serious, but you say the scariest shit sometimes.

Grian: Do we have any orange juice left? Scar: pours the remaining juice into their cup Scar: Sorry, we’re all out.

Grian: What must it be like to live in your head? Are there happy ponies in there? It’s really something how utterly delusional your optimism is. If I didn’t hate you so much, I might even be impressed. Scar: Huzzah! I got a heavily qualified and slightly sarcastic compliment from Grian!

[eldritch-spouse]

I want to be smothered by both Cero and Livius They're the worst of the icons, I say with hearts in my eyes

TW: Implied noncon.

The worst of the Icons, who also manage to get mildly along, so this could happen?

See, it's not too much of a stretch that the Icon of Pride would like to be mimicked, and Livius finds this incredibly funny, so while the two can never fully trust each other, they've become bizarre almost-friends along the way. The type of friends that definitely talk massive shit about each other behind the other's back.

You could, let's say, be one of the servers in Rinx's massive "Conqueror's Spoils" auctions. Other Icons often have to attend these auctions when invited, or else Rinx spreads open rumors of their supposed lacking financial status. Although Rinx tends to buzz all around the place during these events, appearing almost orgasmic with the sums of money being so readily tossed around, the other Icons scatter and seek their own crowds.

Cero and Livius have chatted idly at the tall balconies more than once during these auctions. All it takes is you passing by, and catching Cero's eye for a fraction of a second too long, enough for Livius to notice, store it in the back of his head.

" Huzzah! " The envious one cheers after urging Cero into a deserted room, revealing you alone, about to sweat yourself to death in anxiety.

" I've rented her services exclusively for ourselves tonight. We deserve that, don't we? What sense does it make for us to not have our own specific server? "

Cero had to concede some part of Livius' logic made sense, but that doesn't mean he's not aware of the demonlord's little jab. Perhaps he is jealous of Rinx's more appealing servants present today, but he knows Livius is jealous of Rinx in general, so Cero doesn't see this as something to worry about...

He opts to focus on you instead.

With each question the two of them ask you, they get closer, while your feet remain planted to the ground.

Where would you run? Behind you is Livius, whose arms corral you forward, and in front of you is Cero, who you have no doubt would yank you back by the hair.

Whatever answers and suggestions you stutter are ignored by the two, until your face is pressed against the frills of a brochure-clad suit and something breathes against your scalp.

The ruckus outside is nothing more than a faint murmur. One hand across your side become two grabbing and squeezing, then four fondling just about anywhere. A slow rocking back and froth between two sets of large hips and a throbbing from both sides.

It doesn't matter what they do, no one will believe you.

[cbk1000]

So, my state has family medical leave, which you can take for yourself or for family members if you care for them. I still can't drive due to my body very slowly getting its shit back together after I apparently deprived it of iron for too long, so Mr. Jenn takes me to doctor's appointments (I was seeing a cardiologist for a little while who was trying me on a couple of different meds to try and help with my tachycardia while I heal from the iron deficiency) and also I do labs monthly to check my iron and make sure my levels are still good. My sister wanted to be able to help out sometimes and drive me so Mr. Jenn doesn't have to do it all the time and her manager advised her to apply for family medical leave because he's fine with her leaving early sometimes to take me to appointments (she works a ton of overtime anyway) and whatnot, but his supervisor, who just started fairly recently, is kind of a dick. So basically her manager wanted something from the state covering his ass so he can give one of his employees time off to care for a relative with health issues.

Ok; my cardiologist signs the paperwork for her, she files it with the state, gets approved, huzzah.

You get 90 days per calendar year, and it can be taken as entire days, weeks, whatever, or even just an hour or two to take a family member to a doctor's appointment. You just use it as needed until your hours run out, and your job is protected for the duration of the leave.

In the three months since she has filed for leave, she has taken four days off, three because Mr. Jenn had to go to some out of town training for work, and I could manage on my own, but I can't exert myself enough to take Seamus on longer walks for exercise/shitting purposes (I can pop out to the backyard with him for quick bathroom breaks, but can't stand or walk for very long because I start getting shortness of breath/chest pain, etc.). So she was basically just here to help me manage Seamus while Mr. Jenn was gone. Last Friday she took a day off for the same reason; he went to visit one of our friends in another state and she stayed with me through the weekend to help with caring for our horse-sized dog that I can't manage on my own right now.

Today she tells me HR pulled her into a meeting to tell her she was being taken off the machines she runs (she's a machinist) because of her paid family leave. I asked how the hell they're justifying that for taking four days off in three months, with plenty of notice (her last day off she notified them nearly two weeks in advance that she would be taking a family leave day). She asked them the same thing, and they told her it was because those machines need someone running them all the time. She pointed out that it would make more sense to just pay attention to when she's going to be gone and arrange for someone to cover for her during that time instead of just removing her completely from the area, and HR said what makes sense to her doesn't necessarily make sense for the business.

So I said, their argument is that anyone running those machines can't take any time off whatsoever? Ask for the written policy that states anyone working those machines can't take any PTO or leave because of their run requirements, because that's what their logic is. She suspects that her manager's boss wasn't paying enough attention to the schedule and didn't realise she would be gone and then threw a shit fit Friday when she wasn't there, but that's a you problem, my guy. You had two weeks to make sure there was coverage. Are you saying she can never go on vacation?

She's calling the department who handles the leave, because it sure feels like retaliation for taking family leave, which they're not allowed to do, but we're not sure if it's straight up illegal because they didn't fire her, just kicked her off the machines she's been working for a couple of years.

When she initially applied for the three days off, her company tried denying her and saying her leave wasn't approved due to company policy, and she had to go on the state website where it very clearly stated her application had been approved and tell them that the state approved it and it's mandated by state law, which company policy doesn't get to override. Management is a toxic shitshow anyway, but they really seem to be trying to go above and beyond with this.

Anyway, I am pissed on her behalf so there's my rant for the day.

[fictionalcreator]

okay saw ur tags (brilliant btw <3) tell me more about tcf and where i should read it? 👀

YES, GLADY

Okay okay, so, first things first, you can find it over at the good folks of EatApplePies, who also host The Third Wheel Strikes back if you want yet another surprising deeply developed fantasy novel with a self-sacrificing protagonist in a multiple transmigrator scenario, only this one has a gentler protagonist (who can’t stop getting targeted for assassination) and also comes with thinly-veiled canon gay marriage. Huzzah!

Not that tcf isn’t ripe with shipping potential, but as of chapter 400 no one has proposed that protag marry the Crown Prince, which is a thing that does happen around chapter 200 or so of TWSB! What can I say? Stepmom goes hard to bat for her kid.

Anyway I’ve gotten off track.

Honestly, if you’ve read ORV and/or S Classes That I’ve Raised then you’ll enjoy going in mostly blind.

I know that I was initially turned off my first attempt at reading because I couldn’t quite get into Cale as a protagonist and felt that his team was getting too powerful too easily. The first arc or so can feel like things are simply happening too smoothly? And Cale adapting to his new role so quickly doesn’t help. But I can assure you all that does not last lmao

Cale slowly reveals his layers as a person (sometimes very slowly)(but the things he reveals. Oh man. I am chewing on him. Shaking him like a ragdoll. “Emotional alienation” is a fucking UNDERSTATEMENT jfc), and before you get disappointed at how easily the team acquires op abilities, ask yourself: “what could they possibly be facing in the future that requires they have all of this strength?”

As for the actual elevator pitch…uh, i’ll put it under this cut, this is already kinda long lmao

So, imagine, you’re Kim Rok Soo. You’re taking your first day off in, what, 10, maybe 15 years? (First day off from what? Don’t worry about it)

You decide to spend that time binge-reading a novel an old co-worker recommended. You get to volume 5 before you pass out, but when you wake up, you find that you are now in possession of the body of Cale Hentinuse, eldest son of Count Deruth Hentinuse, and minor villain of that novel, who insulted the protagonist, got beaten up for it, and wasn’t really seen nor heard from again.

Cale Hentinuse is generally known as the trash of the count’s family (hence the title). He spends his time drinking and getting into fights. He hasn’t been the family representative to the capital in years. But Kim Rok Soo takes only one lesson away from the label of “trash:” trash is someone who does whatever they want.

And if what he wants is to avoid getting beaten up by the protagonist, transmigrator Choi Han, instead dragging him home to get fed and washed up like a dog, then so be it. Hope this doesn’t inspire a life-or-death loyalty that will prove completely unshakable! ‘Cause Cale is totally thinking of sending the protagonist on his way so that he can hang back and live the slacker’s life in the background. Yeah that’ll totally work out no problem guaranteed 👍

So what if he acts a bit willfully here in there? Doing things like saving the young dragon and helping a man fated to die dodge that fate? He’s still going to take those powers he read about for himself. He needs those to be strong enough to live in a land where turning over a stone can reveal a dozen deadly hidden experts. And doing something so self-interested…that’s enough to make him the bad guy here, right?

Right. That’s how these things work (don’t question his logic or why he thinks of the concept of selfishness in such terms shhhh)

But even if it’s selfish, it’s not like he’s gonna stop. After all, they have a war to prepare for. One that will rock the whole Roan Kingdom. Possibly the whole continent. Cale needs every chip he can get in the game if he wants to keep his home safe.

After all, how can you lead the proper slacker life if you’re worried about global political instability dragging your friends (and family!) into conflict?

PS Children aren’t meant to fight wars. The weak should be protected. Just because it’s unpleasant doesn’t mean it will not be done.

PPS if you want to see me yell about this book in real time i’ve been tagging my posts abt it with “tcf novel” and “fict’s ramblings” but of course spoilers up to chapter 400/776 for the most recent posts

[cannibal-nightmares]

Some of my Stein Soul Eater playlists

I do a lot of driving for my day job. Before I was a driver, I used to work at a record store doing album reviews and critique, but even before then, music has always been at the center of my story ever since I was a wee child. To friends, I'm the designated car DJ, the guy with the playlist, the genre-bender. I've had all kinds of people ask me for music reccs, and, much to my surprise, Soul Eater-specific music reccs... This is all to say that every time I get into my car for work now and I reach to put on one of my playlists, I can't help but think "damn I need to make a public compilation or something." SO HUZZAH! Enjoy this mess of a collection. Everything here is a perpetual WIP and will be added onto until the end of time. (also feel free to send me music in my ask box, some of you have, I'm always clawing for new music, but I listen to a lot of music...)

So without further adieu, I'll start with my most-frequented playlist:

[Spotify] Somewhere more adjacent to a personal(!) fictionkin playlist, this is so far my longest and most-listened to [Soul Eater] mix. It mostly consists of metalcore and alt metal, with tonal themes of turmoil and chaos, but there are a couple curve-ball tracks to keep you on your toes (mostly of which came from recommendations of other people ^^;). I like to "smart shuffle" this list to find new alt bands. Word of warning that there's all kind of provocative unreality narratives throughout this playlist, that's just how it goes (my logic is a sort of comfort in discomfort). SHUFFLE IT!

Track highlight: "CANVAS" by AVRALIZE (rose, if you're reading this. hi. 📯)

[Spotify] WAAAHHHH While not one of my more-frequented listens, I've really enjoyed putting this one together over the past year. Songs of heartbreaking, "Will they? Won't they?" I've tried to remain true to alternative genres for the sake of consistent character tone, but there are streaks of teasing whimsy as per the dynamic of our calamity duo ^^

Track highlight: "The Void" by Spiritbox

[Spotify] One of my first Soul Eater playlists, I was really dissatisfied with other public Spirit-oriented playlists I had found. Semi-inspired by fan-made playlists for Tamaki Suoh of "Ouran High School Host Club," I love putting this one on if I'm feeling prideful and femme, hahaha. I revel in the occasional dirtiness sprinkled throughout this one and I plan to add more eventually, heh.

Track highlight: "Love Taste" by Moe Shop (ZOEY U KNO I HAD TO)

[Spotify] Alright, I'll admit this one is currently an ambitious mess. I've kind of just been passively adding onto this as I find music I think Stein might be interested in. I'm swayed to think he is a lyric-oriented person until a genre bends into avant garde (as I currently quite literally have it opening with a new-era Of Montreal song, WOOF). Every time I think about this playlist or move to listen to Tool or Radiohead I am reminded I really need to clean this one up. I'm an avid believer Stein would like Tool, lol. This one nears close to a similar-enough idea to a following playlist, "Franken's Static Calm." Ideally, this list will become very long in the future as it's supposed to be a pretend library of albums and artists, not necessarily individual tracks.

Track highlight: "Cardium" by Trigg & Gusset

[Spotify] Although very obviously a WIP at the moment, I'm including this playlist because I could have sworn I've extensively worked on it already (knowing me, I've probably made a Soul Eater playlist under a non-specific title, I have a terrible habit of doing that). This one is particularly in no specific order right now; I intend to include a lot more music parallel to the canon score including that of acid jazz, as cleverly and observantly curated in "soul eater vibes" by sacccstry. (WHICH IS A FANTASTIC PLAYLIST I highly recommend; I put it on in the car when I'm driving friends around for the viiibes) Currently, this playlist is majority made up of electronic call-to-arms. :)

Track highlight: "Killing Giants" by Puppet

[Spotify] OKAY WAIT HEAR ME OUT HOLD ON WAIT NO-- Essentially Soul's iPod, this is (and will continue to be) a disaster mess. I just think Soul likes it all. I think he has his favourite genres in eastern music, underground surfpunk, and acid jazz, I think he picks up tidbits of different songs by different artists from friends, I think he's the guy who can name random tracks from Bollywood films out of nowhere (cough this might be me I'm describing). I find Soul to seek complexity in easy-listening, and vise versa. ...Also to say that every time I hear Nirvana these days, I'm thinking about Soul Eater Evans ^^;; This playlist is a fustercluck right now, but I think a keen ear for music and en eye for the character will understand where I'm going with this one.

Track highlight: "Trick of the Light" by CIVIC (which. woof. I've seen CIVIC, El Khat, and Stonefield all in concert and is where my Soul-specific inspiration and intention derives from)

[Spotify] I'll make an attempt at justifying this one: It's simply that I get really dissatisfied by the generalization that Stein is nothing more than an edgelord reduced to cartoony theatrics, ones that depict him as inherently self-loathing while simultaneously and paradoxically prideful. ...This being said, I am guilty of frothing over edgy angst themes often found in heavy alternative music. As I add onto this playlist, it is mostly of tone, generally catering to a sort of juvenile taste of edge, and I might even begin to include classic emo genres.(Don't get it misconstrued: I love it all. /gen) Think the grunge side of Warped Tour.

Track highlight: "Gauze" by Deftones

[Spotify] Currently closely adjacent and overlapping to the WIP that is "Franken's iPod," this is one I am trying to keep to it's more calming paces. Somewhere in between a rainy night and [eventually to include] ambiance, I started this one to have something to put on in the background. Eventually it will have more melodic noise and ambient soundscape like that of The Black Dog and Aphex Twin and Yellow Swans, but as for now it is a major WIP that I wouldn't mind folks taking a peek into. (...Also "Ultraviolet" by Spiritbox is in here because for some reason it provokes in my mind's eye that of younger Stein having a quiet moment of peace to himself. I don't know why.) In this vein of reason, I'd love to make a Stein-oriented harsh noise playlist sometime.

Track highlight: "Cup Noodle" by The Black Dog

[Spotify] A guilty-pleasure playlist, this is a short list of songs I've found either lyrically or tonally fit Stein, but, distinctly, not both. I can be particular like that.

Track highlight: "Wet Specimen" by SWEET SPINE

Although a long list, I still have so many other SE/FF playlists as their time comes. I constantly have my feelers out for new music and soundscapes, other work in progresses to include Stein/Justin, fanfic playlists (of my own and for others), and one specifically for Black Star which currently only has "When I Grow Up" by NF on it at the moment ^^;

ANYWAYS ENJOY ENJOY I can't continue sitting on these, GO FORTH AND EXPLORE!

a bonus secret-not-so-secret playlist, heh -> "you're one sadistic man"

[casual-praxis]

I’ve had a tumblr before, but never one for like, casual posting. Mostly it was just asks blogs (that I didn’t know how to use.)

But new year new me (wait what do you mean the year’s almost over), so here I am to post fandom content I was too scared to admit I liked when I was younger. Huzzah.

Here, I offer an unfinished sketch I made of a genderbent Four Swords AU that got wildly out of hand the more I thought of it. Maybe I'll come back to it someday, but at the moment I'm super focused on a different FS AU, so maybe that's something to look forward to. Maybe.

The main premise for this AU stemmed from me just wanting to draw Red with a side ponytail. Then that branched out to me drawing the rest, and then I started thinking of a story. And that was a mistake.

The only real difference from the manga's story (outside the genderbending shenanigans) is all the Colors are set to learn something specific throughout the story.

For Green, it's actually the original goal of learning teamwork. She's the most focused on wanting to save Zelda and thinks the others are just slowing her down.

For Blue, it's learning how to control her temper. She got pretty much all of OG Link's anger so it's a matter of controlling it and not letting it hurt others (who she doesn't intend to hurt).

For Red, it's learning to stand up for herself/take action. She's the only one working with pretty much the whole range of emotions, so she feels fear the strongest of the four. It's in learning to fight despite that fear, that one finds true courage.

For Vio, it's learning empathy/emotions in general. She starts off almost completely blank (logic over feelings and all that), but through a combination of Red's guidance and Shadow's influence, a personality is formed. Just in time to learn the emotion of grief. :)

Shadow remains the same pretty much. I think she hides her ponytail in her hat, but it still moves around like a separate appendage.

There's still a bit of fun to be had with this AU, if I can devote the brain power to fleshing it out a little more. The first step would probably just be to finish the sketch. So far only Green and a quarter of Blue is done.

The FSA manga used to be a huge hyperfixation for me as a kid, but I never really did anything with that interest. Now that I kinda know how to draw and have killed the part of me that cringes, I think it's time to change that. ^^

[yakool-foolio]

If the Professor's waxwork model has been returned, hopefully we'll be able to see what it looks like! If the model was always going to be returned even without the ransom, then what was the true purpose of it being stolen, I wonder? My best guess is that it served as a distraction... WAIT GAME THEORY: WAS ASMAN THE PROFESSOR? The killer could've used the model as a nonliving body double for Asman and nobody would be able to tell the difference if they couldn't find the model.

Well, he may be headless, but he's no horseman. Damn Enoch, the stress must've really gotten to ya for your hair to turn all white. SHOLMES FEED YOUR KID JEEZ LOUISE! A thick shard of glass, hm? Like it came from, I dunno, THE CRYSTAL TOWER? My theory very well may be correct, huzzah!

Hooooly shit that's a Hellhound if I've ever heard of one. Sounds incredibly brutal, me likey the grim implications (Blank Week enthusiasts where ya at?). 'The Great Departed Soul' has a double meaning; the 'resurrection' of both Kazuma and The Professor. OH so it was the stress, forgive me Enoch for my joke I was actually /srs.

Unfortunately my friend group had to stop early for tonight cause of technical difficulties, but we're gonna try to catch up to speed tomorrow night. As compensation, have some extra miscellaneous TGAA thoughts of mine (mostly music related cause I can't help myself).

So if Klint's spirit is The Reaper, then there could be some unchecked wrath not just directed at his killer, but perhaps defendants as a whole? Thinking with ghost logic here, ghosts tend to remain on the mortal plane whenever they have unfinished business, such as when their death is unjust and their killer is still walking around a free man. So if The Professor is indeed still alive, then that would be a good reason as to why Klint's spirit seems to follow his younger brother around. The motive Klint's spirit could have in causing the deaths of the defendants prosecuted by Barok might be due to unkempt rage of his own killer still being at large, unbeknownst to most of London. He's not taking any chances at letting other potential killers go free, so he effectively curses them with a curt death so they won't harm anyone else. Klint might also not know what his killer, The Professor, looked like, so he's basically doing the ghost equivalent of firing randomly into a crowd of suspicious-looking individuals. This is all just taking the idea of a ghost causing all these deaths literally so uhhh a thick layering of salt is needed to properly ingest this take. I apologize for your high blood pressure after this.

In my escapades of assigning lawyers n prosecutors Monster Hunter themes, I've made an exception and want to give Sholmes Ruby Basarios' theme. It one of the very few consistently happy-go-lucky sounding monster themes in the whole series, which fits him being the comedic relief while also having a few off-kilter bits much like Sholmes' actual theme to showcase his roundabout way of deducting. It also features some tap dancing-esque percussion, which I love associating with the dance of deduction.

I absolutely love how Adjudication (how the track's named on Spotify is what I go off of) sounds almost like a waltz. It really evokes the feeling of the dance of death--Danse Macabre--between the lawyer and the prosecutor. It's a delicate balance of life and death any way ya look at it. One misstep could lead to your dance partner cracking their head against the floor. And we don't want anyone else to end up with a serious case of amnesia here, right?

Whisper On The Breeze by TWRP is such an Asoryu song it makes me melt. The Great Departure is all the more bittersweet to me because of it. Like hoo man these lyrics:

(To Whom It May Concern - @raymondshields)

[daenystheedreamer]

oh yeah so on cersei's comment: "ten thousand of [robert's] children perished in my palm....all those pale sticky princes". There's an interpretation to be had that this implies knowledge of cell theory, knowledge of the sperm cell, and possibly advanced microscopes.

if not and each 'pale sticky prince' is one ejaculation, by dividing 10,000 by 14 (the number of years they were married), would imply an average of ~714 ejaculations per year, or about 1-2 ejaculations per day (crucially in cersei's presence).

now this is technically possible, even considering their estrangement, but i believe it necessitates an unimaginable leap in logic considering the cheating and the incest and the fact they HATE each other.

in conclusion, i believe that cersei is aware of the fact that ejaculate is in fact a soup of sperm cells. perhaps she and the wider scientific community still believe in preformationism (laughable but understandable, of course), but i strongly believe this supports the idea that cell theory is at least discussed enough that it is a component of basic education of children. huzzah!

[blackdigitalrose]

Tues - Yes! Pretty Cure 5 - EP 41 - 43

EP 41

Give them a point for choice of camera focus but that's all we need today folks, no need for the twenty minutes. Convenient how their problems overlap, two birds with one stone ep.

One, whose they and two, looked down? You haven't even done anything? One fight with Precure since you've been introduced and if he's included at all, he's usually just sitting there, saying nothing.

With that said, these two have good chemistry, its unfortunate they have so few scenes together. Urara is usually with Nozomi and Komachi mostly with Karen.

That's creepy, on the other hand, he may have not done anything thus far of note but he did manage to possess an entire auditorium, so that's something.

That fight made little sense but once again, just poof with out doing anything. Monster of the week, job done.

The little interaction between Urara and Komachi at the end was quite adorable though. Very sibling like.

EP 42

O.o? Is it? This is news to me.

(¬.¬ Nozomi is also back to annoying self these last couple of eps. It is actually irritating that Nozomi is such a pain and yet Cure Dream is a credible leader, it's like two entirely different characters!)

But to the most pleasant surprise, this was not another petty squabble ep between Rin and Karen but them actually coming to an understanding and seeing eye to eye on something. Bottom line, neither know what they want to do in the future. I'm pinning this as a cultural difference because at that age, how is anyone suppose to? (But it's another for the Precure Bingo card.)

Not sure if this is a personal grievance or not but come on >.< why are you using their actual names, they've transformed, surely it should Aqua and Rouge? Then they transform and they start jumping between the two >.< what is the logic in naming here?

It was nice to see them getting a long but for the most part, it was a nothing episode.

EP 43

Huzzah, consistency! Still pushing it! However, Poker face, Komachi does not have.

(ó﹏ò｡) egads, this is so bittersweet. This who scene was great.

Ok, where does that bag keep coming from? Because human Nuts does not have anything to suggest he's carrying it around with him but poof, squirrel form instantly comes with it? Then again... suppose the same could be said for that key to.

All the emotions in this ep, crikey.

It's another crazy accuracy moment!

Oh snap Mint! Talk about hitting it out the park, so she wasn't just a shield this whole time?

This entire ep was absolute gold for Komachi as far as character driven eps go, plus it delved into so many other things to, while making it quite clear on her mindset and way of thinking of various things. Her whole approach to her Nuts issue is so mature, despite how she feels at present, long term, there's going to be issues, that can't be resolved so easily, if at all. (and yet, I shall root for it all the same because darn, I really do like these two as a pairing.)

[tavina-writes]

8 and 17 for the fic writer asks?

FRIEND! :DDDD HI HI 8. if you had to write a sequel to a fic, you’d write one for…

Honestly, what WOULDN'T I write a sequel for is the better question. I'd write a sequel for literally anything. it's just. I have a bad time finishing them so they're /shoves errant sequels of 50k+ back into the google docs bc they aren't done baking yet.

17. talk about your writing and editing process

uhhhh this process is very bad. but it typically goes something like:

I think of a cool idea and noodle down some scenes/lines/dialogue/concepts

I expand these in a way that makes logical sense to me and no one else

I ping pong wildly back and forth between different scenes

I make a new draft document every day with ONLY THE SCENES I WROTE THAT DAY in it - often times these scenes will have a theme, but what that theme is only me am know

I shove all the scenes at the end of the writing day or beginning of the new writing day into the master document where they belong (except these are more like, scene fragments or scraps than like, fully fleshed out beginning middle and end because I can't even like, write in order for as long as a scene or sometimes even a single sentence lolsob

at some point the scenes reach critical mass, unionize, and I understand what the Themes Or Something are and I use that to adjust the scenes in the soupy editing process while also writing all the not fun bits like transitions and logic and structure and flow into the work

I get to the "end" of this "construct an actual story" process and go HUZZAH MY WORK HERE IS DONE!

it is not done I reread and do the second pass edits of adding in important lines and details and making sure there's foreshadowing/whatever subtlety I might possess as a writer actually making its way into the work

I post this work on ao3

uhhh sometimes I do these steps out of order or simultaneously or I start the writing day by rereading everything that's happened so far to make sure I haven't fucked up a detail somewhere...

Anyway yes the writing process is a horrid wretched beast but it works for me and this is the only way I finish things so I do that! and along the way create like 400 documents for one work or something.

thanks for the ask! :D

[hopeymchope]

Having finally finished reading the DR Kirigiri light novels, here are my closing thoughts and questions.

(For background, I read these translations. Which - as I previously discussed in the first bullet of this post here - may have some small issues throughout.)

I've previously given y'all my report on how I felt / what I was thinking about this series just after passing the halfway point of the light novels, so now it's time for me to bring this whole thing home and offer some closing thoughts.

My first, dominating thought is that this would be so good to see adapted as an anime. I can easily imagine how many episodes it'd take to do each light novel and where you'd logically cut off the story... even more easy, though, would be a manga. It's definitely crying out for that kind of treatment.

Regardless of the (relatively minor) gripes I raise below? This is definitely a great series to read. You get a number of twisty, gripping mysteries, an easy-to-like lead duo, an imposingly powerful enemy force, new background on our favorite lavender-hued detective, and you even get some great new characters added to the mythos — what more do you want?

Okay, but now I'll get into the griping stuff :P For starters: Isn't it... kind of LAME to have Kirigiri repeatedly experience something so similar to the basic setup of DR1 (or any mainline Danganronpa game, really) on MULTIPLE OCCASIONS prior to DR1 ever happening??? But then she just never remotely reference any fo that experience? And YESs, of course I realize she never even obliquely references these events because these prequels weren't actually written by the time of DR1, nor even completed by DR3. But that's the kind of thing you typically want to avoid with prequels, right? ...... Even so, I guess this does take us farther into these stories deserving to be called "Danganronpa" than any other spinoff. And it's not hard to come up with excuses for why she never remotely hinted at these things; she's intentionally acting withdrawn and keeping info to herself throughout DR1 and DR3, after all. So it's not the WORST crime. It's just, like I said: kind of lame.

MORE SPECIFICALLY, let me clarify: Although the cases in DRK don't include a "mutual killing" element, you still get at least three cases where she's [1] trapped in a specific building alongside a group of people who include a killer/"mastermind," the cast subsequently being picked off one by one, and [2] said experiences are also broadcast to a viewing audience. In fact, you even get two cases where [3] the trapped participants are expected to take specific bedrooms to lock themselves in during the nighttime! And even [4] one case where there's a weird, automated "host character" overseeing the whole thing, which is being operated around a specific set of rules. That's a helluva thing, isn't it?

I've previously expressed GREAT TREPIDATION about one specific element of this series: I was told that supposedly, these light novels included evidence that Fuhito was manipulating Kyoko into hating her father, her dad was always a victim, and Kyoko never realized that she was basically molded from birth by someone who was manipulating her feelings and actions. It all made Kyoko considering Fuhito her "most imporant person" (per DR1 and UDG's captives) come off as this tragic tale where our supposed "master detective" never realized she's been a victim of gaslighting and manipulation for many years, which would change SO MUCH CONTEXT behind her life's work and her relationships with both Jin and Fuhito. HOWEVER, GUESS WHAT? None of that shit was even true! HUZZAH!!!! NOTHING in these light novels goes against what we already knew about Kyoko, Jin, Fuhito, or their relationship(s) with one another... though there is some minor new insight provided into a couple of details. We get a new look at how Jin actually cared about Kyoko from afar (via the "Jin Ex Machina" business I mentioned in the previous post), which is in line with the hints of his lingering love for her we tasted in both DR1 and DR3 without either exonerating him for his choices OR making him 100% correct. We repeatedly watch Kyoko questioning/doubting her grandfather's/family's longstanding "detective work must come above and before personal concerns" rules. And we also get a taste of Fuhito being protective of Kyoko when he learns of the kind of danger she's in — yet simultaneously having complete trust in her talent and ability to overcome said danger. Fuhito seems to even gently help Kyoko understand Samidare's actions near of the end of the final volume... although we only get a taste of his help via Kyoko's internal thoughts, so we don't know exactly what he said to her. TL/DR? My point is simply this: The DRK light novels keep the overall morality / goodness of Kyoko's family dynamics in the same place we already understood them from the games: Kyoko and Fuhito are very close and care about each other without being overtly emotional about it, there is a rift between Jin and the rest of his family over Fuhito priortizing case work above visiting his dying daughter on her deathbed, Jin clearly still concerns/cares that linger for his daughter, etc.

What's with so many scenes of "Black Challenges" or "Duel Noirs" having signs defaced to include the word "DESPAIR"? Is that just some extra branding for the main franchise's themes? Feels out of place.

I feel bad for all those orphans who adored this dude.

General thoughts on numerous new-to-DR characters: As I said in my last post about this series, Samidare is likeable but spends most of the series very thinly defined — plus she's pretty slow on the uptake. Thankfully, by Volume 4 she starts finally pulling her weight, and she gets some much-needed expansion of her background in Volume 7 (just in time for her to make some dumb decisions). Licorne is probably the second-most important new character, and he's an asshole. An interesting one, though! And he does some heroic things! .... even if he isn't really all that morally invested in helping people. He's a self-centered asshole for most of the series, frankly, and I don't care much whether he's around or not. Salvadore Yadorigi Fukuro is awesome; a straight-up superb character with a very "DR" kind of skill/talent. Yaki Hajiki is a character who's also hard to dislike, and I wish he got more "screen time," because he's very intriguing. Johnny Arp is a fascinating one, though he definitely shares some dickish behavior with Lico. Still, I'm always engaged when he's on the page. And... look, I'm fond of Meruko "Pumpkinhead" Mifune. She's fun, sure, but I also see real potential for depth that isn't explored herin.

My remaining observations/thoughts contain some spoilers for the Danganronpa Kirigiri series, so I'm putting the rest UNDER THE BELOW CUT... although I still avoid mentioning the identities of any culprits or masterminds so as to keep the primary case mysteries intact.

Yadorigi = Intelligent, quiet dude in sunglasses who looks like the answer to "What if Munakata found his chill?"

What, exactly, is the state of Yadorigi's eyesight by the end of the series? Initially, we learn that his unique eyesight is very important to his work in uncovering fraud. Later, after a blow to the head, we're told that his eyesight will never be the same as it previously was. In the final volume, he visits Kyoko while wielding a white cane. So uh... does that cane imply that SYF is now blind or very close to it? Or am I reading too much into a walking stick here?

Nothing infuriates me quite as much as when major problems in a story could be easily resolved via basic fucking communication, and a failure to communicate on a base level is absolutely CORE to why things go south in the seventh and final volume. By the time Kyoko and Yui are heading out to the case, the situation is this: Without Kyoko's knowledge, our redacted overarching mastermind (henceforth referred to as "ROM") tried to get Samidare to agree to be the culprit in this final Black Challenge. She refused. ROM then said their organization (the Crime Victim's Relief Committee) will eliminate Kyoko if Samidare doesn't play along. And then, right after saying this? ROM pretty clearly DIED right in front of Samidare, before she can ever express any intention of changing her mind or not. She is then confronted by the enigmatic Tokichiro Endo, who is basically the go-between for culprits and the organization, who demands her final answer. Based on what happens in the case immediately after this, it appears that this conversation somehow ended with Samidare refusing to be the true culprit in this case but ALSO accepting that she would be framed for the murders and take the fall. So now Samidare has a choice to make: Does she (A) trust the Crime Victims' Relief Committee to keep their promise and leave Kyoko alone so long as she keeps her mouth shut...... even though Samidare refused to meet their demands and become the case's culprit? OOOORRR does Yui (B) realize that the Committee has already broken their supposed "rules" by forcibly coercing her into being the culpri — not to mention the fact that they're routinely aiding and abetting murders — which adds up to mean that she can't trust their word and must warn Kyoko of the danger she's in now that the committee has threatened her life directly? Any thinking person should choose (B), but Samidare of course chooses (A) so the plot will happen. *FACEPALM*

The worst part of this is that EVEN when our two heroines have just barely escaped from a burning building and fled out into freezing conditions, leaving them on the razor's edge between two possible methods of death with everyone else from the case seemingly already being dead? Samidare STILL won't outright deny being the case's culprit when accused. With literally NO REASON LEFT not to come clean, she never says jack shit. And then she dies!

During the denouement, the conclusion Kyoko reaches after leaving the hospital and revisiting the scene is... murky, and I think this might be something caused by the translation methods used. It currently reads as though Kyoko reaches the correct conclusion about the case, accurately determining Samidare's innocent AND identifying the true culprit(s). However... she doesn't seem to be 100% confident in her decision? It sounds like Kiri still harbors some lingering doubts about Samidare possibly being guilty?..... Even though she sounds really confident in her (correct) conclusions immediately before that. So it's left ambiguous. Which, I suppose, is one way to maintain Kiri being the Best Detective while simultaneously leaving room for her line in DR1 about how her burns happened because she "trusted the wrong person." She almost entirely knows that she didn't actually trust the wrong person, but they have to leave some doubt so that line can exist? ...... IF this translation is even accurate on this part.

Say... why did Samidare believe she'd die on this mission? It wasn't actually any more inherently dangerous than any other mission her and Kyoko had gone on... LESS dangerous than some, I'd argue! But she prepares this whole letter for her eventual death, so she clearly thought it was a strong possibility. My only guess is that she believed Kyoko was going to be targeted for death, and she planned to fulfill her oft-promised role as Kyoko's human shield. But if that was REALLY something Samidare thought was going to happen, then she had NO REASON to not tell Kyoko the truth about everything. If they're already out to kill Kiri, then OF COURSE it's smartest to warn her about it! So: Why the "last letter"? What made you think you were fucked, Yui?

In the end, ROM's overarching mission is both a success and a failure. Do they take away Kyoko's main emotional attachment, making her withdraw even further into pure logic so she'll avoid getting hurt? Yes. Do they make her deny the value of such attachments in the first place, resulting in her staying isolated forever after? No. She 95% knows she's right about Samidare's innocence in spite of ROM's attempts to frame her; it's just the pain of the loss that makes Kyoko withdraw, not some grander conclusion about distrusting everyone. In fact? I'd argue that Kyoko's speech in DR1's Chapter 4 about accounting for emotions is a strong rebuke of ROM's entire view of the world.

....by the way, does ROM have their own copy of Junko's talent??! It sure seems like they're another "Ultimate Analyst," essentially; able to see patterns of behavior so clearly that they can essentially predict most future events.

[ladedanixie]

Ok, I shouldn't be typing, but I'm too excited (also perplexed).

So, I read all of the Murderbot books in the last two months and I am almost done with System Collaspe, so I barely just caught wind of the tv show.

(I do have some misgivings about the casting of a white man to play MB, same as I did when Annilhilation cast Natalie Portman instead of a Latina, and it is a legit concern, I get some folk are upset about people criticizing the decision, but folks get to feel how they feel ya know. The show doesn't exist in a vaccum and yet if they cast a poc to play MB, folks probs woulda said something about dehumanization. Doesn't mean the criticism isn't a legit concern. People are overall pretty positive, its the Critical Role Fandom all over again lol. Anyway, I am still pretty excited and hopeful. )

Anywho, I saw the trailer.

Good Points. The narration, the humor, Sanctuary Moon! The focus on the Preservation team. The whole Preservation team! The visuals and set designs. The suit is kinda cool. Overall I am super excited. Skarsgard's acting is pretty good, I even saw that clip of it showing it's face to Guthrain and the eye contact avoidance was perfect. Article mentions polyam, huzzah!

The Bad???

1. Who is the blonde woman? I mean I went and read the vanity article (which is under a paywall now?) right after, and all signs point to her being the indentured servant mentioned there. I looked up the actress, Anna Konkle, and lo and behold the random blonde lady from the trailer who MB told to stop staring at it is her.

Why is she here? They got rid of Overse (and Volescu, he will be missed, but I do understand why), or at the very least Overse is back on Preservation, and they brought in an indentured servant who tries to seduce MB instead? I am so confused. I want to be hopeful since the article described the seduction as a mistake and doomed to fail because MB is repulsed by that. The article and Skarsgard described as it a humorous scene. But, that kinda made me feel a bit weird. TMBD is hilarious for sure, but the seduction being humorous feels weird. I just hope the scene is there to demonstrate very strongly how not interested MB is in any of that.

Moreover, she is an indentured servant? As in, definitely from the Corporation Rim and not Preservation.

Which, if she is from CR, why the hell is she trying to seduce MB?! Everybody familiar with SecUnits in the books are deathly to mildly afraid of them. Unless she mistook it for a ComfortUnit, or was like SPOILERS for System Collaspe and Network Effect :

like the Colonists from System Collaspe or Amena, then she should be uber wary of MB. I can't figure out the logic for it from here. It feels super unnecessary. (I get its a different medium and decisions are made to fit the adaption. While I will miss Overse and Volescu I am ok with them being cut, and while I do not love the suit. I enjoy the spirit and work put into it. Hell there is a scene not from the books of the Preservation team getting MB. Which I do recall (correct me if I am wrong) was mentioned in the books, just not a whole scene. My beef is that it makes no sense to me with all the info I got from the books.)

2. This one isn't bad perse, I am just a bit dubious about it. The vanity fair article mentions MB being entertained by the Polyam trainwreck of the team, which without Overse present who is having relationship squabbles on the team? Are some people put together instead? Who? This I do not have too much of an issue with. I imagine that if Overse is gone, they might put Dr. Bharadwaj and Arada together. But polyam is mentioned so who else? Ratthi or Guthrain? Pin-Lee? All of them? It's more cautious curiosity because Mensah and her family plays such big roles in later books.

Hopefully once I see the show, it all works out and makes sense. For now, I am a bit wary.

(Edit. 4.11.25. Ignore point 2. I just started a reread of All Systems Red. So yes many polyam stuff haha. I fully forgot. Ratthi crushing on Pin-Lee. Pin-Lee and Volescu crushing on Mensah. Guthrain being the only loner. Mensah being the only one not crushing on or romantically involved with the rest of the presaux group lol. I guess cause this was just a paragraph that briefly described these dynamics and didn't explore them cause MB could care less about that. I forgot they were there haha.)

I guess Amena wouldn't disappear, but I'd miss Farai if the show ever gets that far. I know she didn't have a big role, but I love the moment she has with MB in Network Effect, ya know.

[thehaw-k]

The Cat & The Mouse: Chapter 1 - Debut

Benedict Bridgerton x OC reader

summary: sometimes paths just don’t cross.

a/n: guys idek what to call this trope, but part 1 is finished, Huzzah!

warning: you’re gonna be angry these first few chapters, regency era, feeling not good enough. anything i missed!

A light knock snaps you quickly out of your racing thoughts.

“Are you ready, dearest?” Lady Danbury says from the other side of the door.

Waving for your maid to open it, you stand up to face yourself in the mirror.

Stepping into your room and exhaling deeply, Lady Danbury takes a second to admire how beautiful you look.

“Your mother would be so proud of the woman you are today.” She says causing your breath to hitch in your throat.

The both of you admire how detailed your dress came to be, looking at the specific flower stitchings on the overlaying lace of your skirt, and the slight gold tones under your chest and sleeves, you turn around to let Lady Danbury get a closer look.

Finally looking you in the eye, her face drops as she recognizes the sad expression taking over your being.

“Are you not excited for your debut?” She asks taking a step closer towards you.

“No, no, that’s not-” Lightly chuckling at her worried tone, you take the final steps closer to her and grab her hand.

“I could not possibly be more excited for my debut, Lady Danbury.” You reassure before continuing your thoughts.

“Although I’m afraid I still have many doubts.” You admit looking at the floor.

“May you explain?”

“I-I’m afraid I will not make a love match this season. Or ever really. I just know that once I debut and become an option on a list for suitors, I will not be able to marry out of love or harmony, but moreover out of money and convenience. You know, logically speaking, out of every male in the ton, the love of my life is most likely in-in Spain!” You say dropping her hands and turning around.

“Why do you say that?”

“Because why would the universe ever make things easy on me?” You rhetorically ask before crossing your arms over your chest and pausing for a second.

“I know that the universe finds me undeserving of such happiness, and with that conclusion, I’m afraid of the day I end up in an unhappy and unloving marriage like…” Trailing off at the end, you realized you started describing Lady Danbury’s marriage with the late Lord Danbury.

“Like I once did?”

“…Yes.” You admit reluctantly.

You feel so exposed as you share your biggest fears, but if not now, when?

“Josie, you know I’ve loved before, correct?”

“Yes! Yes I know all about it, and while I’m very happy that you were able to find it outside of your marriage, I’m afraid the only thing I truly wish for is to get it right the first time. Which is a selfish ask and I highly doubt it would be granted to me… I know I have my whole life ahead of me, but to know that I will not be apart of the very select marriages that are out of love, I feel apprehensive walking into my greatest fear.”

“It sounds like you’ve thought a lot about this.”

“I have. But now that I’ve gotten it off my chest, I fear it’s time for me to push away any and all doubts and go along with wherever fate takes me.” You say in haste as you take a short breath.

“You know, sometimes I wonder where you became so clever to have the ability of being so worried about something and then be able to reassure yourself directly after, but then I remember that you have your mother’s mind and your father’s heart,”

“And you cannot forget the addition of your influence,” You add almost mechanically, like she’s apart of you despite not sharing and genetic relation.

“And the addition of my influence, and I could not be more proud of you my dear. I assure you, the universe has plenty in store for you, I know as a writer you wish to know the ins and outs of every novel that may be fiction or not, but for this story, I’m afraid you might have to walk in the dark for a few miles before you truly know where you’re going.”

Processing her words you nod as you fully understand them.

“Shall we go then?” You finally ask.

“We shall.” She says then looping her arm through yours.

In the carriage ride over to the castle you make notes of how you will go about the social season.

“…And I will not entertain any Lord I know will not be a good suitor for me. I do not care for being polite when in the end it’s just wasting my time.” You state matter of factly earning a raised eyebrow from Lady Danbury.

“But you cannot forget your reputation precedes you, if every potential suitor knows that you judge them based on first glance, they very well could do the same, including a possible love match.” She says looking out the window.

“Hm. You are correct…” You admit as you ponder what she says for a few seconds.

“I officially wave my white flag. May we go home now?” You ask slouching in your seat earning a playful tap on the knee from Lady Danbury.

“I think it would be more wise if you try not to plan ahead for every little detail, and try to walk in the dark.” She says with narrowing eyes as she quotes herself from earlier.

Instead of pacing around the room like most of the other soon-to-be debutants you take standing in a corner with your head banging lightly against the wall behind you. Of course Lady Danbury was not around because, if she were, this would be absolutely unacceptable. But right now? You couldn’t care less.

“Josette, this is Lady Bridgerton and her daughter Eloise who is also debuting today,” Lady Danbury says almost furiously as she looks at you, causing you to hastily stand up straight and curtsy in front of the woman you’ve met few times before.

“Josette, always a pleasure to see you.” Lady Bridgerton says sincerely earning a nod from you.

“You as well,” you say quickly looking at a very nervous Eloise.

Having met Lady Bridgerton a few times in your childhood, you surprisingly haven’t met all of her children.

You’ve met Anthony since he would visit sometimes while him and Simon were in school, and you have also met Daphne briefly after her and Simon’s honeymoon when you were visiting home this past summer.

Since being away at school last season, you were unable to make it to your brother’s wedding which made you feel truly horrible. Mainly because he always swore he would never marry, but the second you turn your back he does.

Men.

“This is my daughter Eloise, Eloise this is Miss Josette Barham.” Lady Bridgerton says introducing the two of you.

After a beat of uncomfortable silence you finally speak up.

“They won’t start the ceremony for awhile, would you like to grab a refreshment?” You ask the other obviously nervous girl in front of you who nods dramatically.

Taking her arm in yours, the two of you walk away from the mamas and to the drink table.

“I apologize for my appearance when you and Lady Bridgerton came over with Lady Danbury.” You say grabbing a lemonade for yourself while also handing her one.

“Oh no worries, I would’ve looked the exact same if my mama wasn’t up my-.” She interrupts herself by taking the drink from you and taking a generous gulp causing you to giggle.

You were going to like this one.

“So, not a big fan of the ton and traditions I take it?” She finally asks earning a laugh from you.

“Surprisingly, no. I thoroughly enjoy all of this, especially the gossip…but I start to dislike it when I’m the topic of discussion, as do we all I assume, I wish I could just spectate like Lady Whistledown.” You admit looking at the drink in your hand.

“I can’t say I’m the same. I absolutely hate all of this. Dresses especially, who made it so woman can’t wear trousers? We have legs also!?” Eloise says causing you to stifle a cackle.

The true admiration you have growing for the second oldest Bridgerton girl comes almost as a breath of fresh air.

“I know exactly what you mean.” You say trailing off.

“Except the gossip of course, I do agree with you that it’s fun until your the topic of discussion, although, Lady Whistledown is unfortunately apart of the ton.” She says causing your eyes to grow wide.

“How do you know that?” You ask accusingly.

“I know what you’re thinking, and despite how much I wish I were, I am not Whistledown. But assuming I could let you in on my secret…hypothetically I’ve been trying to discover her identity since last season.” She says shrugging like it’s no big deal.

“Wow, and you’ve discovered that she’s apart of all this?” You ask motioning to the world around you in disbelief.

“Of course, no maid or servant would have the eyes or ears to be able to find out the whole ton’s gossip while also keeping up with their duties.” She says like it’s the most obvious thing in the world.

“I suppose you are correct…later at the ball or whenever we may speak again, would you be able to fill me in on more of what you’ve gathered? I think you may actually be onto something.” You say causing her to go speechless.

“I- yes, yes of course,” She says excitedly making you smile.

“My mama speaks very highly of you, so when I was supposed to debut last season, I managed to use you as an excuse to delay.” She says looking admirably at you.

“However do you mean?” You ask now as the speechless one.

“Well, you managed to delay your coming out by two seasons, so you could continue your education, as a writer! What is there more to look up too?” She asks making you blush. You suppose she is correct, it’s not like you just wanted to delay because you simply wanted to, you had a purpose. A drive.

“I’m assuming Lady Bridgerton did not agree to let you delay another year like I did as well?” You ask knowingly.

“No, she said that you were finally debuting so I should also…Although, may I ask, how were you able to convince Lady Danbury of all mamas to delay your debut by not only one, but two years?” She asks genuinely shocked.

“A magician may never share her secrets,” You respond playfully, “But I must have you know, Lady Danbury is not my real mama..” You add on hoping she knew.

“Well, obviously, but our mama speaks so highly of you and Lady Danbury and how she’s raised you all your life, I only assumed you would consider her that, I apologize if I overstepped-” She says backtracking scared she disrespected her new friend.

“No, not at all. It’s actually quite refreshing to hear a point of view that’s actually correct. Usually I have to over-explain myself and it’s a whole thing, but, thank you…” You say sharing your exact thoughts out loud as you process what she’s said.

“Girls, It’s time.” Lady Bridgerton says as she approaches the two of you.

“Goodluck,” You sigh towards Eloise as she nods nervously in response.

Getting into line, everything felt just a little bit more real as the first name got called, which was two girls ahead of you.

“Miss Agnes Archer, presented by her mother, Lady Archer.”

“It is not too late, you could say I collapsed, that-that I got something unmentionable on my dress!” You overhear Eloise exclaim behind you.

Glancing over at Lady Danbury, she lightly shakes her head already reading your mind.

Responding with a pleading look, she continues to shake her head until she finally gives in. At her cue, you quickly turn around.

“Eloise, I promise everything will be okay. I walk before you. Just keep your mind on me, and the fact that once you finish presenting yourself to the queen, I’ll be in the room directly behind waiting for you. Can you do that?” You ask quickly as the girl’s name in front of you gets called.

“Uh” She says not confidently earning a look from you.

“Can you?” You ask a bit more harsh now since you’re about 10 seconds away from being called yourself.

“Um, yes, yes I can. You will be in the room directly behind, and I- I will meet you there.” She says nodding quickly earning a smile from you.

“Good.” You mutter quickly as you turn back around.

“Miss Josette Barham, presented by the honorable Lady Danbury.” The announcer calls while the doors open before you.

Benedict’s POV:

I don’t understand why my attendance at these sort of events is required.

Well, I mean, obviously I do. It’s so I can possibly find my future wife as my mother hopes, but as I’ve technically been able to marry for a few seasons now, I don’t see as to why she doesn’t just give up on me.

I mean, thankfully our last name starts with B so it’ll get over with quickly. But since I snuck out early last year after Daphne was called and named Diamond and all of that, Anthony made sure to threaten me and make sure I stay through the whole ceremony today. Of course.

Yawning as the first name was called, Anthony decided to glance at me at the same time, now jabbing me in the ribs.

“Ow!” I harshly whisper in response.

“Best. Behavior.” He whispers back with a glare to which I roll my eyes. I’d rather paint a portrait of the queen with my fingers than stand through this whole thing.

“Miss Josette Barham, presented by the honorable Lady Danbury.” I hear the announcer call, but before I was able to see whoever this debutante was, I dropped my pocket watch.

Crouching down to find it, I pat my pockets once more as I can’t seem to see it on the floor. Much to my expense it was still in my pocket. Of course.

Sighing as I stand back up, I hear endless roars of applause as I see the back of the debutante walking out of the room.

“What was that about?” I mutter to Daphne to which she scoffs.

“The Queen was starstruck by her! I truly think she may be the diamond of the season.” She whispers, excitedly clapping and I nod slowly in fake comprehension.

“Miss Eloise Bridgerton, presented by The Dowager Viscountess Bridgerton.”

Clapping as I heard my sister’s name called, I quickly stopped once I noticed no one else was clapping yet.

Rolling my eyes at what seems like Anthony’s never ending glare, I already knew this was going to be a long day.