#touching evil (2004)

[saudrag]

[gean-grey-blog]

Decided to go spelunking on Livejournal. Returned with Touching Evil bts pics of baby Jeffrey Donovan

[gean-grey-blog]

Less asexual viewers would probably put more horny answers bc 26 year old Jeffrey Donovan is shirtless lot

i made a character sheet. free to use as you wish, feel free to change whatever you want XD open source ass thing. spent all of ~maybe an hour on it.

Credit: the text in the insert-image box comes from this video, and the text for the top three lines (intense, complex, fruity) comes from this post. The actual image was made with the free NBOS character sheet creator, which is a sort of dated but free and solid text-layout sheet maker intended for ttrpg style character sheet creation.

[ladykailitha]

Spellbound Part 13

Here we are at the penultimate chapter! The climax I have been building to for several chapters is here at last.

This is where all the witches get to have their turn. And I finally pull off the joke I have been holding on to foreeevvveerr!

Also kudos to anyone who spots the reference to Hellboy (2004).

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12

~

Steve went to make sure Eddie and the others were safe and let out a noise of distress when he recognized the Witch Hunter. Thomas Hagan had been a family friend. Their mothers had gone to school together. But while Richard Harrington accepted his wife’s witchy ways, David Hagan had not.

He had tried to stamp out any notion of magic and spells from the moment they wed. Then Marianne Hagan fell ill.

Steve had always thought that David had been poisoning her and that’s why he refused to let Mom look at his wife.

What he hadn’t known was that David had told Tommy that a witch had cursed her. But had left out the witch’s name. Probably to avoid actually being cursed.

Then Tommy died in his arms and it was a tragic end to what once had been a good friend.

“Billy!” Max yelled, coming out of the forest.

She was at his side in an instant.

Lady Melisande looked at her and smiled. “He’ll be fine, child. The idiot Witch Hunter managed to miss every single vital organ.”

Max threw her arms around Billy and he held her tight.

“I’m fine, Maxie,” he murmured. “I’m okay.”

She pulled away and then hit him. “Don’t scare me like that again!”

“Ow!” Billy cried. “Hey, I’m still wounded, you know.”

Robin came dashing up to them. “Come quick! The mayor is trying to sacrifice Chrissy!”

Max looked down at Billy, torn. She was a witch. Yeah, a witch in training, but a witch nonetheless.

“Go!” Billy snarled. “You take out this bastard at the source so he can’t hurt anyone else.”

Lord Eanathreal nodded. “We will take care of the boy child and see him safely back to town. You must take him out. We are unable to do so with all the cold iron.”

The four witches nodded and made for town as fast as they could.

~

With Eddie’s glamour shielding them from sight now that Steve and he had touched and his power had grown, they were able to sneak into the town square.

There Mayor Carver had set up an alter where Chrissy lay unbound, unmoving.

“I will cleanse this land of witchcraft and evil!” Mayor Carver was shouting a knife held in his right fist. “I will take revenge for the death of my son! I will sacrifice her to God so that others might live in Christ!”

The town just watched enthralled, captivated by whatever blood magic he was using.

“She was born for this purpose!” Mayor Carver continued. “She was christened Christine. The feminine of Christian, a follower of Christ!”

“His aura is gross!” Max hissed with a grimace. “It’s black and oozing blood.”

Just then someone joustled the group and pushed Robin out of the circle of Eddie’s influence, landing at the feet of the mayor.

Mayor Carver seized her by the scruff of her neck. “Come to watch your true love die, witch?” he chuckled darkly.

“Let her go!” Robin screamed, kicking and scratching to no avail.

“I will sacrifice you next!” he snarled, shaking her roughly.

When he shook her, the amulet Argyle made shook free from under her dress.

“A witch’s amulet?” he asked cocking his head to the side. “So that how she was able to escape my control. You vermin gave her an amulet of protection! But it is gone now and so to will yours!”

“No! Don’t! Wai–!” Robin tried to warn him.

But he yanked on the leather cord and it came off in a snap.

Suddenly a bright navy blue light sheered through every person in the town square.

Eddie’s glamour wasn’t even protection enough from the sheer brute force of will of Robin’s magic being released on the whole town.

It shattered into shards of black light that also pierced the crowd.

Mayor Carver dropped Robin and the knife, clutching his chest. He fell to one knee. “What have you done to me, witch?!”

Max stepped forward, eyes wide in awe. “Oh my god...” she breathed. “Eddie and Robin’s magic has penetrated his aura. It’s splintering.”

Steve grabbed her and pulled her close. “Don’t touch it! It might hurt you!”

Mayor Carver slumped to the ground and looked Steve right in the eye. “Oh look what you’ve done. You’ve killed me.”

Out of his stomach, a smoky black hand clawed at the ground. Then another, pulling at the ground as more of the arms showed. Then a horned head peaked from the fallen form of the former mayor. It raised its head, its dark red eyes glimmering in the fading light of the day.

The townspeople were finally broken of the spell and the air was filled with screaming and cries as they ran away.

Steve shoved Max behind him and drew his sword. Without taking his eyes off the demon that was crawling out of the corpse of Mayor Carver, he said to Eddie, “Hey, love. You think you make it look like there are a bunch of me?”

Max’s eyes went wide. “Love? Ooh! That’s new! You’re gonna have to tell me all about it once you kick this demon’s ass.”

“Deal!” Eddie cried to both of them and Gawain skittered out from collar of his shirt.

Gawain chittered something and Eddie nodded, following his directions. He began to weave the air with his hands and suddenly there were five other Steve’s in his combat armor.

“Whoa!” Max huffed. “Also new!”

The demon had fully come out of Carver’s body and stood seven feet tall with long curled horns and large bat wings. It had goat’s feet and a scorpion’s tail. The rest of it was human enough to send shivers down Steve’s spine.

The demon spotted the six Steves and snarled as they surrounded him. The beast went for one of the Steves but it was the wrong one as the real Steve swooped in from behind and sliced at his wings.

The demon shrieked in pain and agony as Steve’s blow landed. It whirled around and swung its giant hands toward the one who had struck him. But before it could get close enough it was struck on the back again. This time with torches. It whirled around again. This time to face the gathered Watch, standing there with torches and pistols.

Then the other Steve’s vanished along with the Watch. The demon howled in frustration as its prey constantly eluded it.

Suddenly it let out a loud screech. Steve was on its shoulder, his sword deep in its back. But before it could swing around to dislodge its new rider, it was being pierced by a half dozen swords.

Chrissy moaned and Robin was at her side in an instant, helping her sit up. The true love spell glittered as a flutter of butterflies surrounded them in green and blue.

The demon tried to shield its eyes with its arms from the blinding light of true love.

Chrissy took in the situation in an instant. She yanked something off her neck and threw it to Steve. “It’s a crucifix, Steve!”

Steve used his magic to catch the small glittering object as it arched over his head. He could feel his magic draining. He wasn’t sure he could do it.

Then the air was filled with the cawing and shrieking of Max and Steve’s familiars. Both Zoomer and Circe went for the demon’s eyes. The demon swatted at them. Zoomer was able to bank out of the way, but Circe was struck full force of the demon’s power and crashed to the ground.

Suddenly Steve was filled with energy. “No!” he screamed and jammed the crucifix into the demon’s eye, muttering the spell he would have used on the redcap had he been given the chance.

“For Circe!” he cried as he was thrown to the ground, next to her broken body.

The demon exploded into shards of molten glass, Robin was only barely able to throw up a shield at the last second encasing shards within to prevent anyone from getting hurt.

Eddie stumbled over to Steve and clasped his hand, then he collapsed. The girls ran over to their sides, only to breathe a sigh of relief when they both had a pulse.

“Well, I for one am glad that’s all over,” Robin huffed, leaning against Steve’s back. “But how on earth are we going to get them to safety?”

Max blinked up at the skyline. “Well, how about a moving house?”

Robin looked behind her and sighed. “Right, in all the hullabaloo with what happened today, I forgot Bav could move on her own.” She got to her feet and then helped Chrissy to hers.

Bav lowered herself to the ground and suddenly she was big enough to have both Steve and Eddie on settees, separate but close enough that they could reach out and hold hands if they had to.

Beds were created for the girls and soon the entire house hold was sound asleep.

~

“Caw! Caw!”

“Shuuush!” Max admonished. “You noisy bird! Steve needs all the sleep he can get. He took on a demon and shouldn’t be awake yet.”

“Croak?” came the concerned reply.

“Circe?” Steve murmured, slowly coming to. He opened his eyes and sitting on a new wooden perch was a smaller raven than his raven. She had a white patch on her chest and her eyes turned to him.

“No,” Robin murmured, “I’m sorry. She didn’t make it. We’ll have a funeral for her when you’re well enough.”

“She came through the window,” Max explained, “just before you woke up. I think she sensed you were coming to and wanted to be here when you did.”

Steve held out his arm and the raven landed on it. She tilted her head and croaked sadly. He stroked her breast. “How do you like the name Morgana?”

Robin clapped. “That will go great with Merlin and Eddie’s Gawain.”

The raven cawed her agreement and Steve let out a sigh. “It’s going to take some getting use to and I will probably call you the wrong name once in a while. So this me apologizing upfront.”

Morgana rubbed her beak along his cheek and croaked sadly.

He sat up and looked around. “Where’s Eddie?”

“Right here, darlin’,” Eddie murmured, coming over to the settee with a steaming mug. “It’s just peppermint tea until we can be sure your magic has evened out again. It was going pretty erratic after Circe died.”

Steve took the cup gratefully and sipped the warm liquid. “That’s because familiars are supposed to be for the life of a witch.” He looked down at the mug and sniffled. “I think Circe martyred herself to give the power I needed to take out the demon.”

Eddie took the mug and set on the floor so he could hug him tightly. “I’m sorry, love. We’ve been looking into it and we think that the Mayor was Jason’s forefather Demetrius. He would have a male child and use that child when it had grown up enough to place his soul into it to live forever.”

Steve let out a shuddering breath and then another. “That makes sense. I always wondered why no one would use anything but Master or Mayor Carver when referring to him.”

“It’s disgusting,” Robin said, shaking her head. “But the difference in town is outrageous, by the way. There is so much color and magic thrumming through it now, you wouldn’t believe it was the same town we woke up in a week ago.”

“A week?!” Steve shrieked, pulling away from Eddie to look at her. “Has it really been that long?”

“I’m afraid so,” Max said with a grimace. “Like all of us were out for awhile. I woke up first and I was out for a full day. Then Robin who was out for two. Eddie only woke up yesterday.”

Steve frowned. “Then who was talking care of us all? Bav is good, but she doesn’t have arms to take care of that many people.”

Just then Jonathan and Argyle came out of a room Steve didn’t recognize. He wasn’t phased, as he figured Bav must have created it for them.

“I thought I heard your dulcet tones, Steve,” Argyle said with a smile. “I’m glad to see that you’ve recovered. We were all worried.”

Steve relaxed back into Eddie’s arms. “It’s so good to see you both. You have no idea.”

“It’s good to see you too,” Jonathan said. “Will told me about your fight with the redcap, and then to fight a demon on top of that, I don’t envy the headache you’ll have once your magic starts coming back.”

“I’ve already got several potions brewed up,” Robin said coming over to the sofa. “And Argyle has powders prepared for teas as well to combat the headaches. So hopefully that won’t last too long.”

Argyle grinned. “She’s been a great pupil. I think she’ll be able to make quite the living selling her potions and powders once she passes her initiate ritual.”

“Now that she’s able to control her magic,” Jonathan agreed, “it should be at the next full moon.”

“That’s great news,” Steve said with a sigh of relief. “Was anyone hurt? How many townspeople did we lose?”

“The only people who died,” Eddie murmured, rubbing circles up and down Steve’s spine, “were the Carvers, the Witch Hunter, and Patrick, who was stupid enough to come between you and Bav.”

“Bav is such a cute name,” Max sighed wistfully. “What is it short for?”

Steve blinked at her for a moment. “It’s short for Bavarian Motor Haus, because that’s what she is? Some witches nickname their house Bav or Haus depending on the gender the house prefers. But others just refer to them as BMHs.”

“Well that’s underwhelming,” Robin said rearing her head back. “I thought it would be something cooler.”

The walls turned a melancholy grey and Robin squeaked. “Sorry Bav! You’re cool. I promise!”

Steve shook his head as he stroked the windowsill. The wall began to warm up to gentle pink as the house mollified by his tender care. He let out a yawn and slumped further into Eddie.

Eddie laid him back down. “Rest. We have plenty of time to speak of the rest when you are stronger.”

He wanted to protest, but too soon the well of sleep engulfed him.

~

Part 14

Hey, Wanda THAT'S how you deal with someone exploding!

Also, Morgana is a tribute to the fallen Jessamy from The Sandman (good show and comic, don't @ me about the author I KNOW)

Yep. Bav is Steve's Bimmer (BMW being an acronym for Bavarian Motor Wagon). No regrets!

Tag List: TWO SLOTS REMAINING

1- @niniel-karenine @watermelonmite @zerokrox-blog @sadisticaltarts @dolphincliffs

2- @gregre369 @cryptid-system @kultiras @kimsnooks @maya-custodios-dionach

3- @goodolefashionedloverboi @val-from-lawrence @carlyv @wonderland-girl143-blog @bookbinderbitch

4- @bookworm0690 @forgottenkanji @dreamercec @blondie1006 @yikes-a-bee

5- @awkwardgravity1 @oopsallgender @fearieshadow @stedestielfrattficlover @dragonmama76

6- @ellietheasexylibrarian @thedragonsaunt @useless-nb-bisexual @disrespectedgoatman @counting-dollars-counting-stars

7- @tinyplanet95 @ravenfrog @swimmingbirdrunningrock @gutterflower77 @just-a-tiny-void

8- @w1ll0wtr33 @beelze-the-bubkiss @wheneverfeasible @micheledawn1975 @gloomysoup

9- @dotdot-wierdlife @tartarusknight @ollyxar @yesdangerpls @two-vampires-kissing

10- @themoonagainstmers @estrellami-1 @steddieislife

[zeldaresourcesforlufans]

Hero of the Four Sword

The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords (2002)

The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap (2004)

Continuing on with our smallest hero with the biggest secrets! Read on for a synopsis of Four's background according to the Zelda canon.

Both of Four's games were released for the Game Boy Advance. While The Minish Cap follows the "classic Zelda formula" of exploration and dungeoneering, Four Swords stands out as the very first multiplayer Zelda game.

According to the timeline, The Minish Cap happens before Four Swords so I'll describe them in that order instead of release order. And heads up, there are spoilers here if you haven't read the Four Swords manga!

The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap (2004)

Generations before Four's time, evil spirits attacked Hyrule and the kingdom was on the brink of ruin. The Picori (also known as Minish), tiny mouse-like beings, emerged from the Minish Realm and gifted a golden Light Force as well as a sword to a courageous young man dubbed the Hero of Men. The Hero of Men used this Picori Blade to save Hyrule. Over time, an annual Picori Festival tradition arose to commemorate this, however the Picori/Minish themselves faded into legend.

We first meet Four as he's about to spend a day with his friend, Princess Zelda - this one referred to in the Linked Universe fandom as Dot - at the Picori Festival. The festival features a sword competition, and the victor gets to touch the Picori Blade. This year's victor is a mysterious man named Vaati, and he wastes no time in setting his nefarious plan into motion: he wants to take the mystical Light Force for himself. He shatters the Picori Blade and releases a host of evil spirits that the sword had locked away, and then turns Dot to stone. The King of Hyrule beseeches Four to seek out the Minish to reforge the Picori Blade.

Upon traveling to the Minish Woods, Four meets a talking hat named Ezlo. It turns out that Ezlo was once Minish, and Vaati was too. Ezlo created a Mage's Cap with the power to grant wishes, but his assistant Vaati stole it and used it to become a powerful sorcerer. Adding insult to injury, Vaati turned Ezlo into a hat. Ezlo hops onto Four's head and offers to help him seek out the Minish. To aid in this quest, he gives Four the ability to shrink down to Minish size. Eventually Four succeeds in his quest, Vaati is defeated, and Dot - returned to her normal self - uses the Mage's Cap to restore peace and prosperity to Hyrule.

The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords (2002)

Long ago, Vaati (presumably a different version or incarnation of the villain from The Minish Cap) terrorized Hyrule and made a habit of kidnapping beautiful girls. A hero emerged to defeat Vaati using a sword that split him into four copies of himself. Vaati was sealed away, and the Four Sword was enshrined in the Four Sword Sanctuary.

Four's adventure begins generations later, when Dot senses something off about the Four Sword Sanctuary. She and Four go to check it out, and find that Vaati has managed to break free from his prison. He promptly kidnaps Dot with the intent of making her his bride, and Four draws the Four Sword to go after them and splits into four. The four colors, as we know them, embark on an adventure to rescue Dot and are eventually successful.

In the game, the four versions of Four are little more than a multiplayer mechanic. Their depiction as four unique characters - Green, Blue, Red, and Vio - comes from the Four Swords manga released in 2009, which loosely follows the plot of the game (technically Four Swords Adventures) but adds quite a bit more story to it. The manga also delves into the character of Shadow: a fifth, dark version of Four. Although originally an adversary, Shadow does eventually join forces with the rest of Four and heroically sacrifices himself to defeat Vaati.

Linked Universe Commentary

Four's hairstyle in Linked Universe is unique, and probably deviates the most from the various Links' in-game designs. He does, however, bear a resemblance to the Hero of Men from The Minish Cap! And early LU material shows that Four does still have the ability to shrink to Minish size.

In Linked Universe, the characterization of the four colors that Four splits into do appear to follow the characterization from the Four Swords manga. Here are the character descriptions taken word-for-word from the manga:

Green: Leader. The classic Link. Blue: Hotheaded, stubborn, takes action, good at fighting. Red: Easygoing, bright, innocent, simpleminded. Vio: Cool, contrary, brainy, sarcastic.

In the manga, the colors themselves try to describe each other a few times but it always dissolves into arguing. Therefore, fans both within the Linked Universe fandom and in the larger Zelda fandom often analyze each color's traits to create headcanons of which characteristics they represent for Four as a person. Fan analyses tend to describe the colors something like this:

Green: Personality/Leadership Capability Blue: Morality/Sense of Justice/Initiative Red: Emotions Vio: Intellect

Keep in mind that although this is Zelda-verse headcanon, fan works including the Linked Universe canon do tend to be pretty unified in following this general model.

Do you know any additional information about Four from his games/manga that you think others might find interesting?

Do you have questions about Four's past for other LU fans?

Feel free to add them by reblogging or replying - this resource is meant to grow!

Stay tuned for more Zelda Resources for Linked Universe Fans coming soon! Next up: Time!

[sleepythug]

What are some movies that every aspiring cinephile should watch?

battleship potemkin (sergei eisenstein, 1926)

city lights (charlie chaplin, 1931)

M (fritz lang, 1931)

freaks (tod browning, 1932)

brief encounter (david lean, 1945)

out of the past (jacques tourneur, 1947)

the third man (carol reed, 1949)

late spring (yasijuro ozu, 1949)

kiss me deadly (robert aldrich, 1955)

a man escaped (robert bresson, 1956)

touch of evil (orson welles, 1958)

la dolce vita (federico fellini, 1960)

peeping tom (michael powell, 1960)

man who shot liberty valance (john ford, 1962)

the exterminating angel (luis buñuel, 1962)

shock corridor (samuel fuller, 1963)

kwaidan (masaki kobayashi, 1964)

dragon inn (king hu, 1967)

playtime (jacques tati, 1967)

once upon a time in the west (sergio leone, 1968)

two-lane blacktop (monte hellman, 1971)

aguirre, wrath of god (werner herzog, 1972)

touki bouki (djibril diop mambety, 1973)

the conversation (francis ford coppola, 1974)

the passenger (michelangelo antonioni, 1975)

nashville (robert altman, 1975)

the killing of a chinese bookie (john cassavetes, 1976)

mikey and nicky (elaine may, 1976)

sorcerer (william friedkin, 1977)

days of heaven (terrence malick, 1978)

blow out (brian de palma, 1981)

8 diagram pole fighter (lau kar-leung, 1984)

mishima: a life in four chapters (paul schrader, 1985)

tampopo (jūzō itami, 1985)

blue velvet (david lynch, 1986)

something wild (jonathan demme, 1986)

landscape in the mist (theo angelopoulos, 1988)

sonatine (takeshi kitano, 1993)

salaam cinema (mohsen makhmalbaf, 1995)

fallen angels (wong kar-wai, 1995)

taste of cherry (abbas kiarostami, 1997)

cure (kiyoshi kurosawa, 1997)

the thin red line (terrence malick, 1999)

beau travail (claire denis, 1999)

yi yi (edward yang, 2000)

all about lily chou chou (shunji iwai, 2001)

memories of murder (bong joon-ho, 2003)

dogville (lars von trier, 2003)

tropical malady (apichatpong weerasethakul, 2004)

silent light (carlos reygadas, 2007)

sparrow (johnnie to, 2008)

holy motors (leos carax, 2012)

phoenix (christian petzold, 2014)

personal shopper (oliver assayas, 2016)

[yeetmeoutthewindowdaddy]

A deep dive into Zevlor's devotion (Part 1) Everybody hates tieflings, and how discrimination impacted a young Zevlor:

THIS POST CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR BG3.

These series of posts were originally one loooooong post— but apparently Tumblr has a character limit, and I found it; so now it's been split into several parts/posts.

((Part 1, this post, is mostly to give context to the discrimination faced by tieflings in Faerûn. The third part is where the meat of my Zevlor analysis is.))

(Part 2) Elturel's history and culture, the Hellriders, and Zevlor's paladin oath. (Part 2.5)

(Part 3) Zevlor's actions during Act 1, an analysis of a man who is barely holding on.

(Part 4) Zevlor's actions during Act 2, an analysis of a broken man.

(Part 5) Zevlor's actions during Act 3, an analysis of a man with his faith restored.

(Part 6) Zevlor's actions during/ after the epilogue, not all endings are happily ever after— especially not for a tiefling.

(Part 7) Zevlor in a romantic relationship.

I don't think many bg3 players understand just how dedicated and loyal of a person Zevlor is. This ADHD hyper-fixation fueled multipart-thesis is meant to show how Zevlor's past is as tragic as any of the origin characters'/ Durge's. It's meant to show how horrifically broken Zevlor was when he "betrayed" the other tieflings. It's also meant to show that our beloved blorbo would probably be fervently obsessive if he was in a romantic relationship.

Most importantly: It demonstrates how our favorite man Zevlor was most likely a fanatical religious zealot my dudes. He was (probably) a part of the Faerûn equivalent of the Spanish Inquisition lite.

I have kept this as factual as I am able to. Please keep in mind that Baldur's Gate 3 plays it fast and loose with the DND/ Forgotten Realms canon and lore, on top of DND/ the Forgotten Realms itself regularly disregarding and changing it's own lore and canon. DND lore and canon as a whole is a mess. It has multiple universes that sometimes interact and are maybe separate from each other. Full disclosure; I've mixed 1e-5e lore together FUCK 5.5e, because parsing through what is currently considered canon is a nightmare. As far as I'm concerned, as long as a piece of lore was canon at some point in the past 50 years— it's fair game. @y-rhywbeth2 in this post has a more in depth disclaimer. Also please check out their headcanons and lore breakdowns, they're so good.

THIS PROJECT TOOK ME OVER A MONTH TO WRITE. I've tried to find all grammatical and spelling errors. I've tried to ensure that I've cited the correct sources in the correct places.

I have given up on trying to understand Tumblr's inconsistent post formatting. Why does the 'small' option for text sometimes actually make the text smaller but other times it makes the text larger???

______________________________________________________________

● (Section 1) The Origins, Anatomy, and Physiology of Tieflings:

AN: It used to be that tieflings could only breed with other tieflings and humans. This seems to have been changed recently— one no longer has to have a demon somewhere in their genetic lineage to be a tiefling, one of their ancestors having contact with a demon is enough to produce a tiefling descendant. Which has interesting implications for Warlocks. There are also special versions of elf and orc tieflings.

(From what I can tell) tieflings live for about the same amount of time, maybe ~10 years longer than, humans do. (AN: Remember how I said the Forgotten Realms loves to retcon and disregard it’s own lore? The wiki states that their life span is from 90–150 years, but this source is from 2004 and the lore has greatly changed in the past 20 years. I am choosing to ignore the wiki here for my own sanity.)

Tieflings were humanoids with fiendish ancestry. They came about due to one of their ancestors (even many generations prior) getting freaky with a demon being "touched" by the evil planes in some way.

"Tieflings... were infused with the touch of the fiendish planes, most often through descent from fiends—demons, Yugoloths, devils, evil deities, and others... Although their evil ancestors could be many generations removed, the taint lingered."

Before some warlock shenanigans happened, tieflings had a much wider range of appearances than the ones we generally see now.

"In 1358 DR, a warlock coven...the Toril thirteen performed a ritual that cursed most tiefling lineages... [changing] their original lineage with that of the archdevil... Asmodeus [who] became a god... giving most tieflings... a similar devilish appearance... [whereas before] infernal blood could be diluted through intermarriage... afterward, the union of a tiefling with another race always produced a tiefling child."

Their infernal ancestry gave them some very powerful abilities.

"Tieflings had a number of abilities gifted to them by their fiendish heritage... an innate resistance to heat and... a hint of bloodlust that gave them a slight edge in combat. Tieflings also had access to an ability known as infernal wrath, which channeled their innate rage and potential for evil into their attacks for added effectiveness... [they] tended to have better reflexes than their human kin... [Tieflings are] alluring and intelligent creatures, with a seductive aura in spite of their obviously evil ancestry...

Along with some not so great traits that fed into the prejudices against them.

"Other, more unusual characteristics included a sulfurous odor, cloven feet, or... an unsettling air about them... a general aura of discomfort they left on others... most people were uncomfortable around them, whether they were aware of the tiefling's unsavory ancestry or not... Tieflings were carnivores. They consumed blood, blubber, bone, gristle and meat... [and] raw bone marrow..."

Tieflings tended to be resolute and tenacious, with a strong internal drive to rise above their circumstances.

"They are adaptable and resilient to hardship, and possess strong aptitude at whatever pursuit they dedicate themselves to... When facing adversity, the tiefling instinct is not to withdraw from the world, but rather to challenge it head-on... Tieflings seek to make their own fates, defy the odds, and take risks that... most... would not dare."

For some awesome insight on tieflings check out this post [alt] by @gortashs-skidmark, it's a good source on tiefling appearances and traits. Along with this post [alt] by @pikapeppa providing evidence-based headcanons on tiefling appearances. And this post [alt] by @y-rhywbeth2, which talks about how a tiefling's physical traits are influenced by their specific infernal heritage.

Their infernal appearance and weird vibes are why almost

● (Section 2) Everybody Hates Tieflings:

Even before Elturel's Decent into Avernus, and subsequently the events of BG3 (both of which I will cover later), Tieflings faced an incredible amount of discrimination— even from their own kind.

"Few tieflings were raised with the love a normal human child might expect to receive... Tieflings who had strikingly inhuman features were often killed at birth by their horrified parents or others. Only those tieflings with subtle features or born to someone indifferent to their appearance, either out of acceptance or cruel purpose, were likely to reach adulthood... Tieflings often distrusted one another, sometimes even casting the same preconceptions on one another that others did on them."

This post [alt] by @underdark-dreams highlights the discrimination tieflings face in game. And how the Flaming Fists should be called the Flaming Shits, but I'll get into that in another part of this series.

Understandably, they didn't easily trust others. But once someone did earn a tiefling's trust, they were an incredibly loyal friend.

"…[Tieflings] expected eventual rejection from all... However, members of other races would find that once they demonstrated friendship and trust towards a tiefling, it would quickly be reciprocated in full. Once that bond was forged, it was rarely broken."

While some tieflings wholeheartedly embraced the preconception that all tieflings were evil, others would endeavor to prove it wrong.

"Their attitude regarding their heritage... while some tieflings embraced it, others were repulsed by it... tieflings, who were proud of their fiendish past... chose to... thwart... dark plots and schemes. Others sought to... emulate these evil deeds. Other tieflings were ashamed or even frightened of their heritage and wished only to escape the shadow that lurked over them... Some did this through constantly doing good, as though to make up for the evil that begot them. Others instead hid [their heritage]…"

Looking like devils made people think they were devils, or acted like devils.

"Tieflings are widely stereotyped as wicked, cruel, and criminal individuals... [with] a tendency to be solitary loners... known for their quick temper, stubbornness, self-confidence, and fickleness in relationships."

And since people thought tieflings were, or would act like, devils they treated them like devils.

"The social rejection they typically face often leads tieflings to enter a life of crime, which furthers social prejudice against their race." 

"We're distrusted and viewed as evil malcontents for so long that we start to believe it ourselves. It's hard not to try to live up to the hype, eh?"— Enkillo the Sly, tiefling

It's not a stretch of the imagination to assume that people would believe that: the more devilish a tiefling looked = the more they'd behave like devils (evil). It's also safe assume: that the more infernal traits a tiefling had = the more, harsher, discrimination they'd face.

This leads into my next topic,

● (Section 3) Zevlor's Infernal Appearance:

He looks like a combo of Sylvester Stallone and Willem Dafoe.

He and his Habsburg jaw lookin ass face seems to always have a 5 o'clock shadow. (Probably because he's a refugee struggling to survive, so his personal grooming habits have taken a back seat.)

Zevlor has more infernal features than the other tieflings do in-game. (As shown in this post [alt] by @lolliputian and @haru-sen) He has very prominent cheekbones, a thick brow ridge, and BIG horns. (Look at @cinnasalmon's post [alt] on Zevlor's horn anatomy.)

HC: The reasons his face bones are so protuberant is because they need to support the weight of his huge horns, as without them his (face) skull would fracture/ cave in from the constant pressure. Poor guy probably lives with a perpetual headache.

Zevlor's prominent infernal facial features make him look older than he probably is— as they emphasize the traits we humans commonly associate with aging; such as defined nasal labial folds, a lack of facial fat, and big ears. The striations by his eyes look like wrinkles, but I think that they're mostly infernal markings.

Stress prematurely ages people, and Zevlor had multitudes of stressors throughout his life: Contending with the discrimination from being a tiefling with prominent infernal traits, joining an elite military unit at age 12, rising through its ranks to become a Commander of said unit, having his city dragged into the literal Hells (more on that in part 2), defending the civilians/ city trapped in the hells, surviving the hells, then being stripped of his rank and banished from his home because of racial prejudices, and then leading a group of (mostly civilian) refugees to Baldur's Gate— all while desperately trying to keep them alive in the face of Faerûn's many, many, dangers.

Combining all the factors above would make any man look 10+ years older than he actually is.

Zevlor looks scary. His irises look like they're on fire, and his teeth are scarier than Astarion's. I was browsing Tumblr alone in my room, at night, 😳 and this photo of Zevlor popped up on my feed giving me a good scare. I have an unhealthy obsession with Zevlor, he's made it onto my official husbando list! And yet, I can't look at certain screen shots of him at night because they scare me. I'm a wuss.

I simp hard for this man, and yet I am still frightened by his appearance sometimes. Imagine how people in Faerûn react when they see his sleep paralysis demon lookin ass him in person? Screaming and running away is completely understandable.

Which brings us to,

● (Section 4) How Discrimination Impacted a Young Zevlor:

Even as a young child Zevlor would've know that his appearance othered him.

"Most tieflings were aware from an early age that they were different from others around them..."

Even as a child Zevlor most likely knew that many people would dislike him and refuse to trust him because he was born a tiefling.

Tiefling families in the traditional sense are rare. Many tieflings, born to human parents who possess a latent infernal bloodline, are abandoned at birth and raised by a monastery, church, orphanage, or adoptive parents.

I headcanon that he had at least one loving parent—before he was orphaned, but it's entirely possible, and likely, that he was abandoned at birth.

Young Zevlor would've known that he would have to work very hard to be seen as something other than a criminal or evil monster.

"While some [tieflings] would... [turn] towards evil, others rejected it wholeheartedly and sought to make a good impact on the world around them, sometimes becoming the most heroic characters of all. Few could maintain this discipline however."

AN: Elturel was a theocracy (more on that part 2)— Zevlor likely grew up in a deeply religious family/ community.

All these factors combined would lead to a young Zevlor who:

Was determined to prove his goodness and rise above the adversity he faced. The force of will and work ethic he needed to become not just a Hellrider— but a Hellrider Commander, while being a tiefling, meant that he would've grown into a stubborn man. (See this post [alt] by @ohsayit)

Was so deeply religious and devoutly pious that he became a paladin. (More on this in part 2)

Internalized the impossible standards he was held to.

Developed a guilt complex (my "grew up Catholic" is showing)

Viewed any mistake he made as a personal moral failure, and as an indication of his inherent evil nature. (Hello again, Catholicism)

Would be hyperaware of how he's perceived by others.

Would learn how to read people's true intentions/ motivations.

Learned to vigilantly monitor, and strictly control his facial expressions and body language. (Is my autistic masking showing?)

Learned how to show deference to others through body language.

Leaned how to make himself appear smaller and less threatening.

Figured out how smile and laugh without showing his teeth.

Mastered the awkward and tight-lipped polite smile.

Figured out how to intelligibly speak with a tight jaw and lips so that his teeth wouldn't be seen by others while he spoke.

Developed self worth/ self esteem issues. Even other tieflings would've looked at him with suspicion and maybe even disgust.

That's it for part 1, here's another link to (Part 2) Elturel's history and culture, the Hellriders, and Zevlor's paladins oath. (Part 2.5)

and the other parts,

A deep dive into Zevlor's devotion series (master list)

[book--brackets]

The Two Princesses of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine (2001)

Twelve-year-old Addie admires her older sister Meryl, who aspires to rid the kingdom of Bamarre of gryphons, specters, and ogres. Addie, on the other hand, is fearful even of spiders and depends on Meryl for courage and protection. Waving her sword Bloodbiter, the older girl declaims in the garden from the heroic epic of Drualt to a thrilled audience of Addie, their governess, and the young sorcerer Rhys. 

But when Meryl falls ill with the dreaded Gray Death, Addie must gather her courage and set off alone on a quest to find the cure and save her beloved sister. Addie takes the seven-league boots and magic spyglass left to her by her mother and the enchanted tablecloth and cloak given to her by Rhys - along with a shy declaration of his love. She prevails in encounters with tricky specters (spiders too) and outwits a wickedly personable dragon in adventures touched with romance and a bittersweet ending.

Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn by Tad Williams (1988-1992)

A war fueled by the powers of dark sorcery is about to engulf the peaceful land of Osten Ard—for Prester John, the High King, lies dying. And with his death, the Storm King, the undead ruler of the elf-like Sithi, seizes the chance to regain his lost realm through a pact with the newly ascended king. Knowing the consequences of this bargain, the king’s younger brother joins with a small, scattered group of scholars, the League of the Scroll, to confront the true danger threatening Osten Ard.

Simon, a kitchen boy from the royal castle unknowingly apprenticed to a member of this League, will be sent on a quest that offers the only hope of salvation, a deadly riddle concerning long-lost swords of power. Compelled by fate and perilous magics, he must leave the only home he’s ever known and face enemies more terrifying than Osten Ard has ever seen, even as the land itself begins to die.

Starbound by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner (2013-2015)

It's a night like any other on board the Icarus. Then, catastrophe strikes: the massive luxury spaceliner is yanked out of hyperspace and plummets into the nearest planet. Lilac LaRoux and Tarver Merendsen survive. And they seem to be alone. 

Lilac is the daughter of the richest man in the universe. Tarver comes from nothing, a young war hero who learned long ago that girls like Lilac are more trouble than they're worth. But with only each other to rely on, Lilac and Tarver must work together, making a tortuous journey across the eerie, deserted terrain to seek help. 

Then, against all odds, Lilac and Tarver find a strange blessing in the tragedy that has thrown them into each other's arms. Without the hope of a future together in their own world, they begin to wonder-would they be better off staying here forever? 

Everything changes when they uncover the truth behind the chilling whispers that haunt their every step. Lilac and Tarver may find a way off this planet. But they won't be the same people who landed on it.

Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy (2004-2024)

Meet the great Skulduggery Pleasant: wise-cracking detective, powerful magician, master of dirty tricks and burglary (in the name of the greater good, of course). Oh yeah. And dead.

Then there's his sidekick, Stephanie. She's… well, she's a twelve-year-old girl. With a pair like this on the case, evil had better watch out…

Stephanie's uncle Gordon is a writer of horror fiction. But when he dies and leaves her his estate, Stephanie learns that while he may have written horror, it certainly wasn't fiction. Pursued by evil forces intent on recovering a mysterious key, Stephanie finds help from an unusual source – the wisecracking skeleton of a dead wizard.

When all hell breaks loose, it's lucky for Skulduggery that he's already dead. Though he's about to discover that being a skeleton doesn't stop you from being tortured, if the torturer is determined enough. And if there's anything Skulduggery hates, it's torture… Will evil win the day? Will Stephanie and Skulduggery stop bickering long enough to stop it? One thing's for sure: evil won't know what's hit it.

Fairest by Gail Carson Levine (2006)

Once upon a time, there was a girl who wanted to be pretty . . .

Aza's singing is the fairest in all the land, and the most unusual. She can throw her voice so it seems to come from anywhere. But singing is only one of the two qualities prized in the Kingdom of Ayortha. Aza doesn't possess the other: beauty. Not even close. She's hidden in the shadows in her parents' inn, but when she becomes lady-in-waiting to the new queen, she has to step into the light--especially when the queen demands a dangerous favor. A magic mirror, a charming prince, a jealous queen, palace intrigue, and an injured king twine into a maze that Aza must penetrate to save herself and her beloved kingdom.

Trickster's Duology by Tamora Pierce (2003-2004)

Alianne is the teenage daughter of the famed Alanna, the first lady knight in Tortall. Young Aly follows in the quieter footsteps of her father, however, delighting in the art of spying. When she is captured and sold as a slave to an exiled royal family in the faraway Copper Islands, it is this skill that makes a difference in a world filled with political intrigue, murderous conspiracy, and warring gods. This is the first of two books featuring Alianne.

Monstress by Marjorie M. Liu (2015-present)

Set in an alternate matriarchal 1900's Asia, in a richly imagined world of art deco-inflected steam punk, MONSTRESS tells the story of a teenage girl who is struggling to survive the trauma of war, and who shares a mysterious psychic link with a monster of tremendous power, a connection that will transform them both and make them the target of both human and otherworldly powers.

Lockwood & Co by Jonathan Stroud (2013-2017)

When the dead come back to haunt the living, Lockwood & Co. step in . . .

For more than fifty years, the country has been affected by a horrifying epidemic of ghosts. A number of Psychic Investigations Agencies have sprung up to destroy the dangerous apparitions.

Lucy Carlyle, a talented young agent, arrives in London hoping for a notable career. Instead she finds herself joining the smallest, most ramshackle agency in the city, run by the charismatic Anthony Lockwood. When one of their cases goes horribly wrong, Lockwood & Co. have one last chance of redemption. Unfortunately this involves spending the night in one of the most haunted houses in England, and trying to escape alive.

Protector of the Small by Tamora Pierce (1999-2002)

Keladry of Mindelan is the first girl who dares to take advantage of a new rule in Tortall—one that allows females to train for knighthood. After years in the Yamani Islands, she knows that women can be warriors, and now that she’s returned home, Kel is determined to achieve her goal. She believes she is ready for the traditional hazing and grueling schedule of a page. But standing in Kel’s way is Lord Wyldon. The training master is dead set against girls becoming knights. He says she must pass a one-year trial that no male page has ever had to endure. It’s just one more way to separate Kel from her fellow trainees. But she is not to be underestimated. She will fight to succeed, even when the test is unfair.

Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes (2012-2018)

Princess Cleo of Mytica confronts violence for the first time in her life when a shocking murder sets her kingdom on a path to collapse. Once a privileged royal, Cleo must now summon the strength to survive in this new world and fight for her rightful place as Queen. 

 The King of Limeros's son, Magnus, must plan each footstep with shrewd, sharp guile if he is to earn his powerful father's trust, while his sister, Lucia, discovers a terrifying secret about her heritage that will change everything. 

 Rebellious Jonas lashes out against the forces of oppression that have kept his country cruelly impoverished--and finds himself the leader of a people's revolution centuries in the making. 

 Witches, if found, are put to death, and Watchers, immortal beings who take the shape of hawks to visit the human world, have been almost entirely forgotten. A vicious power struggle quickly escalates to war, and these four young people collide against each other and the rise of elementia, the magic that can topple kingdoms and crown a ruler in the same day.

[grauline]

Hi hi! So my partners and I have decided to get into vtm but we’re still trying to figure out where to start 😅 Do you have any recommendations or tips for us?

ahh i'm touched to be counted on for recs !! i don't have a group so i can't give actual ttrpg advice, i just like to play in the space like a big grimy blood-splattered dollhouse haha. if you want to dive into the lore vampire the masquerade: bloodlines has been the gateway for most fans since 2004 :)

if you're interested in liveplays at all i would recommend new york by night first, followed by the currently-ongoing thinblood chronicle private nightmares. lots of beautiful, emotional storytelling going on there. LA by night is also good, but as their first shot at a series it took them a while to find their footing/pacing and most episodes are three hours long. if you have the patience for it, the characters will stay with you forever. :) all of these are available to watch on youtube.

there are also some visual novels (coteries/shadows/reckoning of new york) and a series of text-based adventure games (night road, out for blood, parliament of knives, sins of the sires.)

it's important to mention that there's an edition split in the lore, while bloodlines is technically based on the revised edition, a lot of older content and fanwork follows the v20 rulebook. most modern vtm media including the games and liveplays are based on v5. there are edition wars but since i'm evil and not bound by ttrpg rules i like to cobble together a personal canon from both

anyway welcome aboard !! vtm is essentially the vampire oc fandom so i'm looking forward to hearing about your kindred 🖤🦇

[draganwhorror]

Master List of my Ted Raimi gifs

Movies & Short Films (in order of release)

It's Murder (1977)

Acting and Reacting (1978)

Thou Shalt Not Kill... Except (1985)

Evil Dead II (1987)

Intruder (1989)

Easy Wheels (1989)

Shocker (1989)

Darkman (1990)

Lunatics: A Love Story (1991)

Eddie Presley (1992)

Clarissa X (1992)

Patriot Games (1992)

Candyman (1992)

Army of Darkness (1992)

Inside Out IV (1992)

The Finishing Touch (1992)

The Fountain Clowns (1992)

Skinner (1993)

In This Corner (1994)

The First Man (1996)

Apollo 11 (1996)

The Shot (1996)

Wishmaster (1997)

Freak Talks About Sex (1999)

Iggy Vile M.D. (1999)

The Attic Expeditions (2001)

Spiderman Trilogy (2002/2004/2007)

Fatal Kiss (2002)

Between the Sheets (2003)

Red Zone/Players (2003)

Tales from the Crapper (2004)

The Grudge (2004)

Illusion (2004)

The Man with the Screaming Brain (2005)

Freezerburn (2005)

High Hopes (2006)

The Damned Thing (2006)

Reign Over Me (2007)

My Name is Bruce (2007)

30 Days of Night: Dust to Dust (2007)

Millennium Crisis (2007)

Planet Raptor (2007)

Diamonds and Guns (2008)

The Midnight Meat Train (2008)

Angel of Death (2009)

Videodome Rent-o-Rama (2010)

Attack of the 50 Foot Cheerleader (2012)

Semblance (2014)

Darkness Rising (2017)

Deadwax (2018)

Warpath (2020)

Red Light (2020)

Failure! (2023)

Dante's Hotel (2023)

TV Episodes (in order of release)

Alien Nation (1989)

A.L.F. (1989)

Twin Peaks (1991)

SeaQuest (1993-1996)

Xena: Warrior Princess (1996-2001)

American Gothic (1996)

Hercules (1997-1998)

Invader ZIM (2002)

Odyssey 5 (2002)

CSI: NY (2005)

Supernatural (2008)

Legend of the Seeker Season One (2008)

Ash vs Evil Dead (2016)

Buddy Thunderstruck (2017)

Creepshow (2021)

Miscellaneous (no particular order)

The Quarry

Alone - Music Video

The Scariest Stories Ever Told

Random Ted Raimi Roles

Random Voice Acting Roles

Letterboxd Reviews

Ted Raimi Alphabet

Behind the Scenes (no particular order)

Millennium Crisis - Behind the Scenes

Skinner - Behind the Scenes

Eddie Presley - Behind the Scenes

Diamonds and Guns - Behind the Scenes

Darkman - Behind the Scenes

Morbid Minutes - Behind the Scenes

A Powerful Rage - The Grudge Behind the Scenes

Intruder - Behind the Scenes

The Thick Brown Line - Tales from the Crapper Behind the Scenes

Swallowed Souls - Evil Dead II Behind the Scenes

Medieval Times - Army of Darkness Behind the Scenes

Interviews/Documentaries (newest to oldest)

Chew on That Podcast (2025)

HorrorHound Weekend (March 2024)

Meet the Filmmakers (2024)

Steel City Con (December 2023)

Survival of the Film Freaks (2018)

From the Mouth of Babes (2016-2019)

Fanalysis (2002)

[haveyouseenthisseries-poll]

[mollyringle]

Laughter in LOTR

My household has been rewatching the Extended Editions of The Lord of the Rings, and this has inspired me to excavate some of the LiveJournal (!) posts I wrote twenty (!!) years ago. In this one, I ran a search on all the times laughter is mentioned in the books, and listed them. It’s a long list—view the link only if you dare. My shorter sum-up is pasted below, however. The grim/bitter/nervous laughter section intrigues me now: I’d forgotten about Galadriel laughing upon being offered the Ring, or Pippin laughing about the palantír. Those moments were definitely not in the films!

Analysis from 2004:

I'd say we have at least three varieties of laughter: the genuinely happy, the grim/bitter/nervous, and the disturbing/evil.

The Genuinely Happy variety is what the hobbits do most of the time. It's also what the other good guys do when in the company of friends, old or new, when they are not currently under active attack from Mordor. Bombadil, the Elves, and the Ents engage in a lot of Genuinely Happy laughter, being pretty much without a care in the world. Gandalf engages in a lot of it too--and surprisingly so does Aragorn--despite both of them having plenty of cares. The sweetest and most touching instances of the Genuinely Happy laughter, in my opinion, are moments between Frodo and Sam: when Sam somehow makes Frodo laugh on the quest (e.g., see that passage about Samwise the Stout-hearted). Indeed, these tend to be the only times Frodo laughs on the quest, and it's good to see that they're genuine laughs and not laughs of our next variety.

The Grim/Bitter/Nervous/Ironic laughter encompasses those moments like Eowyn's laugh on the Pelennor Fields when she takes off her helmet, or Sam wondering what kind of spider made cobwebs like these. I would also count here the laughs I'm not sure what to make of. For instance, Galadriel laughing when Frodo offers her the One Ring? Is this really a funny moment to her? Maybe, but only if you consider it shocked/nervous laughter. Or Pippin laughing after the Palantir episode, saying he wants Gandalf to tell him everything there is to know. I can't imagine Pippin laughing at all that night, after getting psychologically knifed by Sauron, but if he did I suppose it would be to relieve the tension. We could probably put Gollum's cackling in this column too, since it comes of being mentally unstable. Ditto for Denethor and sometimes Saruman, though they're shading into the third category.

The Evil laughter is yet another beast. We find it in places where the movie also had it: Saruman, Orcs, Ringwraiths, and other evil creatures tend to laugh when contemplating the helplessness of their good-guy victims. That's standard fare for this type of tale. But Tolkien also includes laughter the characters fancy they hear in the wind howling off Caradhras, or in the depths of Moria, or from the roots of a nasty willow tree. Those instances are the laughter of the haunted house, the laughter we don't want to hear at night. Cruelest of all may be the Mouth of Sauron, who seemingly can't stop laughing when telling Frodo's friends that Mordor has caught him and the quest has failed and he'll likely die a painful death.

I think I've babbled enough now. You can easily compare it to the films, since we've all got the films memorized. One addition comes to mind that wasn't in the books: "It's the beards." Other things in the film were funny, but only the audience laughed; not the characters. ("In fact, it's better if you don't speak at all, Peregrin Took.")

Feel free to discuss.

[gryficowa]

AI:

"This is a very interesting topic that affects both politics and intergenerational dynamics. In the case of presidential elections in 2024, Donald Trump gained the support of many voters, and some of them, including younger generations, can be perceived as responsible for his success. Similarly, in the case of 2004 elections, George W. Bush also had its controversy related to support for the war in Iraq. Here are a few points that can help in understanding this situation:

Criticism of the Y generation: In the case of Bush, some members of the Y generation who supported the intervention in Iraq were criticized for their decisions to contribute to his re -election. Many people thought the war was unjustified and its consequences were catastrophic.

Divisions in society: As in the case of Trump, in 2004 there were divisions among voters. Younger generations may have been more likely to criticize Bush's policy, but some of them could also support him, which led to internal tensions.

Media and narratives: In both cases, the media played a key role in shaping public opinion. In 2004, like now, narratives about war and foreign policy were intensively discussed, which affected the perception of responsibility for election results.

The role of activism: in the case of generation Y, Many people were involved in anti -war movements, which could lead to accusations that their actions contributed to political results, which were incompatible with their values.

To sum up, both in the case of Bush and Trump, younger generations were involved in politics, which led to various reactions and accusations. This phenomenon shows how complicated relations between generations in the context of politics. What other aspects of this situation are you interested in?"

Generation Y are hypocrites in this respect, because they themselves were hated by the X generation for their "political" views and were antagonized for support for Iraq (as we are the zoomers for supporting Palestine)

Generation Y forget about its own what they voted for Bush, because they were 100% like that

Generation Y which masturbates to Harris and accuses the whole generation of zoomers for winning Trump are fucking hypocrites

You do not differ from those who supported the invasions of Iraq and defended Bush, you do it towards Harris, who openly said that he supported Israel, you are attacking the zoomers for criticizing Harris as you were attacked by generation x for criticizing bush criticism

Remember someone and what you thought about the invasion of Iraq, because we think the same, we think about Palestine and US support in fucking genocide

Because shock, there is no such thing as "less evil" in the genocide, if you believe in the times of genocide that someone who supports genocide is a smaller evil then you are a problem, not those who react and criticize who you consider "less evil"

If you think that genocide is a smaller evil "because it does not touch you" then you are already a fucking fascist

People thought like the Nazis (who were Germans) murdered people, because "it doesn't touch me, so it's not my problem"

So congratulations to generation Y, from progressive you have become like those who accepted the Holocaust and as those who have antitagonized you for supporting Iraq, fascism did not get only a generation of zoomers but also you

When criticizing zoomers, you are a hypocrite and we have nothing to discuss

[kryptonbabe]

Superman: Earth One (2010) by J. Michael Straczynski & Shane Davis: A Review

Clark Kent is a reserved young adult, he's leaving his familiar Smallville for Metropolis, looking to find himself, build a life. With an anguished demeanor and sad eyes he navigates the big city unscathed, but never satisfied. There's a veneer of trauma to the story, Clark talks more with his dead father, Jonathan, than to anyone alive in the book. While his parents are pumped to have a superhero son, Clark just wants to give his mother a good life, after his father's passing, and to belong somewhere, anywhere.

This had so much potential bringing this different perspective to the Superman mythos, exploring all these heavier feelings we are more used to seeing in the origins of characters like Batman or Hulk. The thing is that while Batman and Hulk earn their angst, Clark's behavior feels unjustified. It's never clear how his otherness can be an obstacle, his abilities are always described as achievements, he's easily accepted everywhere he goes. He could be depressed and that would be interesting (what to expect when the most powerful being on the planet is not evil, but isn't hopeful at all?), but that is never really mentioned.

Clark's feelings are exposed in dialogues and monologues, but his wallowing seems out of place, his father's death is not traumatic, he had a healthy relationship with his parents, he's a genius, he's super strong, he can make a lot of money really fast, but hmm, I guess everybody always asks where is Superman, but no one ever asks HOW is Superman. He's just sad, and we must embrace this.

There's also a kind of mall goth / 2010s emo to this art style and dialogue, the moodiness, the angst, the aversion to primary colors, the Welcome to the Black Parade palette of the underdeveloped villain. As an emo kid myself, I'd probably have a much better time reading this in 2012, when all was new and darkness was inherently exciting. But now, as an elderly decaying millennial emo, I just feel like I need more than aesthetics to make me interested in a story, invested in a character.

The freezing cold take of "Clark Kent is the costume of Superman" was already old in 2010, this view was popularized by the Kill Bill vol. 2 movie, released in 2004, and it's an oversimplified perception of the character, one that considers certain aspects of his history while ignoring several others, lacking the nuance a character as old as Superman deserves. It's jarring to hear this coming from Clark's mother, at this point in the story he is not Superman yet, he doesn't even know if he will someday choose to wear the cape. When Martha says "the mask is what you'll have to wear the rest of the time" she's disregarding Clark's humanity, the life he lived so far, the bonds he might develop when he's not in Smallville anymore. All of this belittled in front of the bigger goal: to turn Clark into a Superman.

In the flashbacks the couple seem slightly manipulative, Jonathan and Martha's only subject with Clark is about him becoming Superman, which might explain why the boy feels so on edge, as if deep down he's trying to run away from this fate of becoming an all achieving force of nature their parents want him to become. It's his parents who give him the Superman name, the costume and the idea to become a superhero. Clark has so little agency in this story, acting resigned, his intentions vague, it's frustrating.

On a positive note, I really liked the fact that Superman destroys a giant spaceship on board his baby ship, (even though, how exactly he stops a world invasion happening in multiple locations with multiple vessels by destroying only one single ship is never explained), overall the baby ship was a nice touch, the science fiction logic of it was very interesting too.

Superman Earth One felt like a very hopeless post-9/11 Superman story, surface level deep, moody and often bleak, without any of the positive emotional impact of the character. The art is nice though and emo Clark is cute. But I need to cheer up now. Thanks for reading this!

[salvadorbonaparte]

2024 in Films - Part I

I watched too many films again this year so here's some reviews from the first quarter of 2024

January

Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998) - Pretty much the opposite college experience as depicted in 3 Idiots and also there's a scene where a child spontaneously converts to Islam to keep a wedding from happening and that works

Rocky (1976) - I got a little too into that series this year

The Karate Kid (1984) - Turns out the original is actually pretty good and I just watched the bad reboot as a kid! Oops!

Face/Off (1997) - This feels like it should be a fake film within a different film. Why is the face transplant plan A? There are some great scenes though, like the wife not recognising her husband, that made me question if this is actually a really deep exploration of identity. And then it got silly again.

Theater Camp (2023) - Almost makes me wish summer camps were real

Gone are the Days! (1963) - I watched this for Alan Alda's terrible high pitched southern accent but stayed for Ossie Davis infectious energy

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) - Manic Pixie Dream Girl Amnesia. Joke aside, why is it that I can't stand Jim Carrey in comedies but love him in dramas

Moonstruck (1987) - This won an Oscar????

February

That Touch of Mink (1962) - homophobia stops insider trading apparently

Carol (2015) - This probably would have given me a sexuality crisis in 2015

Ay Carmela (1990) - no scene in any film will portray the horror of the civil war and fascism as well as the half eaten dinner table in the abandoned house

Rope (1948) - people only focus on the gay subtext (which is real) but can we pleeaaase talk about the politics of the film

Catch-22 (1970) - did a pretty good job in adapting a book that is really difficult to adapt

Platoon (1986) - This was another entry in my grad school watch list

Pan's Labyrinth (2006) - I wanted to watch this since forever but wanted to wait until I could understand it in Spanish. Well worth the hype.

Rocky II (1979) - a sequel that initially made me go "was this really necessary" but then brought me a lot of joy

Rocky III (1982) - Intricate Rituals

Rocky IV (1985) - A metaphor for the Cold War but also. Bad.

Rocky V (1990) - Bad

Rocky Balboa (2006) - Better but like what the fuck was that editing during the fight

March

Hannah Gadsby: Nanette (2018) - I love when stand up comedy is recommended to me with "this will make you cry and change your life" and then it's true

The Holdovers (2023) - Liked it so much I watched it twice but the guy playing Kountze looked too modern like he definitely knows what an iPhone is

The Zone of Interest (2023) - the banality of evil is kind of a cliché phrase by now but it's real

American Fiction (2023) - clever satire, if I say more it probably turns into an essay

Capote (2005) - Rip Truman Capote you would have loved true crime podcasts. Also this was a continuation of my Philip Seymour Hoffman haunting

An American Werewolf in London (1981) - I love when a werewolf film doubles as survivors guilt

Poor Things (2023) - Horrible

Creed (2015) - Pretty much just Rocky but with a 2015 soundtrack and I'm not mad about it

A Fantastic Woman (2017) - a wrote a long ass review on letterboxd about this film is about loss

Creed II (2018) - As haunted as a sports movie is allowed to get before having to add real ghosts (please tell me there's sports films with ghosts). It's about "like father like son". It's about legacy. It's about being defined by your family names. It's about fatherhood. It's about breaking the cycle.

Creed III (2023) - Finally a film that asks the brave question "what if Rocky V was good?"

Dune (1984) - I liked the worms

The Joel Files (2001) - the story of two families in the third reich and one of them happened to be Billy Joel's

Oppenheimer (2023) - Would have made me insufferable during my teenage physics phase

Shiva Baby (2020) - a film that's also an anxiety attack

Searching for Sugar Man (2012) - insane!!!

Menashe (2017) - first Yiddish film I ever watched

Fruitvale Station (2013) - haunted

I, Tonya (2017) - a film keenly aware of the unreliability and subjectivity of both interviews and biopics, this is a sports biopic but also a moving story about the human need for love and the cycle of abuse and it's also damn funny.

Nosferatu (1922) - both scarier and more boring than the novel and also uniquely blood libel flavoured

Mädchen in Uniform (1931) - people were right this is gay

Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975) - Lovecraftian horror for cottagecore lesbians

I do not care if we go down in history as barbarians (2018) - history repeats itself, first as a tragedy then as a farce

La Haine (1995) - I watched this because of my professor :)

A Most Wanted Man (2014) - Philip Seymour Hoffman Haunting Continuation

Ödipussi (1988) - "Mommy calls me Pussi" is an actual quote

13 Little Donkeys and the Sun Court (1958) - Yeehaw???

[bleachonmyskinnyjeanz]

About Me (o . O)

uhhhh hi im chelsea (or olliver) WeLcOme 2 mY bLooGg

;; ´ཀ` ;; bday is 7/04/02 so i am an adult and do not want any minors speaking to me,, so yeah.

;; ´ཀ` ;; i am a gay man nd have been with my boyfriend Alex since 4/20/19 :)

;; ´ཀ` ;; my pronouns r he/him

;; ´ཀ` ;; im autistic nd bipolar

;; ´ཀ` ;; current piercings: 25mm lobes, 00g septum, both nostrils, angel bites, shark bites, bridge, tongue

;; ´ཀ` ;; retired piercings: navel, cheeks, second lobes, smiley

;; ´ཀ` ;; what you might find here: original posts, my own photos and edits, original moodboards, my writing, selfies, collections, reblogged aesthetic posts and textposts, lyrics

;; ´ཀ` ;; what you will not find here: memes, textposts including politics, psas, and similar things

instagram:

https://instagram.com/_htmlrulezd00d_

;; ✘ ;; interests: body mods- scarification, tattoos, piercings, stretching, play piercings, suspension, implants, surgeries...etc, forensics, witchcraft, the paranormal, emo/scene culture, cosmetology, horror, nintendo, 00s tech, rpgmaker games, audio systems, physical media, dvds & cds, robotics, canids, herps, movies, shoes (converse, vans, DCs, osiris, toms, bobs, uggs), xbox 360, halloween, fashion, good scents, html{rulez d00d}, fonts, invertebrates, more?

;; ♫ ;; fav artists: breathe carolina, bmth, escape the fate, early FIR, from autumn to ashes, veil of maya, oceano, whitechapel, suicide silence, chelsea grin, carnifex, early MIW, hawthorne heights, greeley estates, vanna, paramore, from first to last, too close to touch, being as an ocean, lil wayne, of mice & men, beartooth, attack attack!, the amity affliction, asking alexandria, dot dot curve, hail the sun, kendrick lamar, oceans ate alaska, the plot in you, the devil wears prada, chiodos, saosin, attila, landon tewers, a day to remember, kid cudi, thy art is murder, alesana, parkway drive, norma jean, isles & glaciers, vocaloid, slipknot, dance gavin dance, EATMEWHILEIMHOT!, skrillex, ghost town, hollywood undead, i set my friends on fire, JJ demon, job for a cowboy, kesha, 3OH!3, the lonely island, nickasaur!, OMFG, T.I., watchout! Theres ghosts, la dispute, blessthefall, emmure, seeyouspacecowboy, Silverstein, underoath, a skylit drive, architects, LMFAO, amy can flyy, the medic droid, deadmau5, killwhitneydead, trippie redd more..........

;; ✘ ;; movies: evil dead 2013, jennifers body, idle hands, ginger snaps, freddy vs. jason, coraline, 28 days later, dog soldiers, silent hill, resident evil: afterlife, final destination 3, paranorman, the munsters, trick r treat, the lords of salem, terrifier (series), twilight, sucker punch, zombieland, shaun of the dead, train to busan, evil dead 2, dead alive, dawn of the dead 2004, the house that jack built, black swan, sleepy hollow, sleepaway camp, beetlejuice, corpse bride, may, vampires suck, evil dead rise, jumanji, small soldiers, the texas chainsaw massacre, the bride of chucky, no country for old men, halloween, pans labyrinth, tales from the darkside, slither, ringu, the descent, dont be afraid of the dark, legion, quarantine, renfield, frankenweenie, hellboy franchise, ju-on/the grudge, pokemon: the rise of darkrai, nightmare before christmas, invader zim: enter the florpus!

;; ✘ ;; shows: gravity falls, death note, my little pony, the walking dead, my babysitter's a vampire, breaking bad, sabrina the teenage witch, the originals, nyanpire, lenore the cute little dead girl, the grim adventures of billy & mandy, adventure time, regular show, teen titans (go), courage the cowardly dog, spongebob squarepants, forensic files, law and order: svu, sons of anarchy, ash vs. the evil dead, buffy the vampire slayer, teen wolf, clarence, invader zim, pokemon, assassination classroom, mirai nikki, rick and morty, the simpsons (treehouse of horror)

;; ✘ ;; kins: garry (ib), L (death note), marceline/marshall lee (adventure time), robbie valentino (gravity falls), sebastian (stardew valley), mordecai (regular show), ghoulia yelps (monster high), lobo (animal crossing), mavis (hotel transylvania), zoe (left4dead), vinyl scratch+pinkie pie+princess luna (my little pony), zommer (moshi monsters), ash williams (evil dead), brown coat zombie (pvz), bubbles (powerpuff girls)

;; ✘ ;; games: left4dead, left4dead 2, plants vs zombies, viva pinata franchise, ib, the witch's house, mad father, corpse party, webkinz, stardew valley, mario kart, moshi monsters, moviestarplanet, town of salem, sally face, wolfquest, borderlands, minecraft, halo, sonic & sega all-stars racing, animal crossing: wild world, fallout new vegas, skyrim, the sims 2 & 3, dead island, saints row 2, gears of war, batman arkham asylum, pokefarm, wolvden, more. i dont really play games much anymore bc it stresses me out.

;; ✘ ;; IDs & more: zombiekin, ghostkin, vampirekin, werewolfkin, & various therian ids. kins/ids vary between psychological, spiritual & delusional. also a pagan witch (not wiccan) i work with hades & im a death, river, eclectic witch. i have a cat named finn & a beagle named stella

not asexual but I don't like sexual visuals or pictures of people in overly sexual outfits, think bimbo core lol. i have no issue with it! I'm just weird. and gay

more 2 be added later when i remember