#watcher march madness

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Watcher March Madness

This is the last poll of the tournament and will determine who wins the 2024 Watcher March Madness title. Please reblog to support your favorite Watcher show and earn it more votes!

This is all for fun and every show is incredible! There are no losers here. Please keep comments positive when campaigning for your faves.

[whoopsyeahokay]

October Sun

summary: you'd gone to the school, hoping to find Wally or Shy Boy or Bitnik Girl. hell, you'd settle for Mina Volkov and her volatility, adamant that you'd had to have practiced the right procedures to join her in the rafters. At that point, you'd been willing to do just about anything (exposing your abilities included) to help course-correct after Simon had been hauled away by the cops.

pairing: Wally Clark x fem!reader

warnings: eventual smutty smut smut. and mad spoilers. and obvious Canon divergence. very involved, very dense plot.

bon reading, frens

___________________________💀

OCTOBER SUN pt.21

You were willing to do as Xavier had asked. To stay home and rest—not that you'd have been able to do so successfully, earlier events churning together in a wild storm of tragic memory, frayed thought, and sick emotion. You'd been curled up on Aiden's bed, holding Limon like a lifeline, Xavier long gone after promising to pick you up in the morning.

Then Simon had texted; had told you about Mrs. Grace striding into the interrogation room and disarming the deputies' aggressive questioning with a single look before they'd had a chance to dig in. Apparently, Simon was due back at the station the next day, informed he was to give a formal statement that would be recorded and observed by the right parties.

In the aftermath, his parents had been frantic to the point of guarding the exits and refused to let him out of his room. He'd been allowed access to his phone for ten minutes until he'd had to hand it back to his mother.

You'd weighed whether or not to admit that you knew about Simon and how he could see Maddie, but ultimately decided not to do it over text. If his mother had his phone, she was likely checking notifications as they came in—you knew yours would—and that wasn't a problem you wanted to cause.

Things had already gone from abstract to real too quickly for you to fathom, everything utterly and completely fucked.

You were scared. Scared for Simon, for yourself. For Maddie.

Spurred into action, you tiptoed back into your room, pulled Andrew's hoodie out of your laundry basket, grabbed a pair of slip-on sneakers, and—quiet as a mouse—climbed out of your window. Into the tree that stood against the house. Down the thick ladder of branches to fall the last stretch into the bushes. You waited for a full minute before moving, just in case someone had heard the rustled crash.

The windows stayed dark and the neighborhood silent.

They think I had something to do with it, Simon had relayed, they aren't even looking at Anderson.

You shuffled out of the bushes and quick-marched the path to Split River High, keeping to the shadows to avoid late-night weirdos, and possible Neighborhood Watchers who would tattle on you. You didn't have a plan, knew the school was locked and a night guard was on duty. Either Al or Barry, the two rotating shifts between day and night week by week.

Al was old, watermelon-round, and slow; wouldn't give you more than a lazy warning if he caught you trying to break into the building. Barry, on the other hand, was young, loud; had some kind of point to prove, and acted like his uniform made him the voice of authority. He wouldn't hesitate to tell Principal Hartman who he'd caught in the halls after dark, jaundiced teeth on display as he sneered through a heavily embellished version of the truth just to make things worse for you.

Your heart hammered in your chest as you hurried across the parking lot, two cars in the reserved spots. One was definitely the security guard's, but the other you couldn't identify until you got closer. You recognized a charm on the bag left behind in the passenger's seat. A Chinese talisman that Ms. Chung had had dozens of strung around her office.

"What happened to Aiden?" Ms. Chung asked, friendly and serene.

"He...someone..."

Ms. Chung shook her head and tsked, "The truth. What happened to your brother? He fell, didn't he? And you believe it's because you weren't watching him closely enough."

You searched your memory, confused, everything muddled. It'd only been two days since you'd been released from the hospital. Two days since Aiden's death, yet you couldn't form a clear enough picture to share with the grief counselor. There'd been rain. Old wood. The farmhouse's interior a blur as you ran...in? Blood. So much blood. And Aiden, porcelain pale, lips blue, bruises...bruises? God, the blood.

"No, he..."

"He fell down the stairs." Ms. Chung repeated, writing something down in her notebook before casting you a pitying look.

You banished the memory and moved on quickly. You didn't have time to wonder why she'd left her car behind. Unless she was there to have the freakiest date ever with the security guard on duty.

Vigilant, you jogged to the back of the school where you stopped a few feet short of the door. You were relying—perhaps too much—on the connection between you and Wally, blind hope warring with better judgment as you chanted his name in your mind. Over and over, infused with pleas to come find you.

It was stupid, you thought, the dumbest idea anyone had ever had, begging a ghost to ride in like a white knight on the back of the telepathy neither of you had. What was worse was that, even upon entering the school grounds, the connection had only murmured to life, a barely-there purr reaching outward like a cat stretching after a nap. It was unbothered, the way you'd noticed it was when you and Wally weren't within a specific radius of one another.

While it made it easy to concentrate in class, that little mechanism made you want to punch a hole through the fabric of the universe and throttle whatever divine entity had thought it up. Motherfucker. Still, you hoped it would be enough to get Wally's attention.

‗‗‗‗•‗‗‗‗

Wally felt your presence as soon as you'd stepped through the barrier. A sweet honey tug in his gut that made his lips tingle and his skin warm.

He glanced at the others, sat together in the library as friends despite the drama earlier. The atmosphere was the kind of comfortable that gave Wally hope things were back on the right track.

Rhonda had just finished explaining how the Devils had become the Bandits, an old yearbook open in front of her, and they'd collectively agreed to keep Simon a secret from Mr. Martin.

A sense of excitement fizzed in Wally's core at the thought of sharing a secret with his friends. He couldn't recall ever having had one since his death. Nothing important, anyway. Which he'd feel strange about if it weren't for the fact that he'd shared a finite amount of space with the same handful of people for forty years (he ignored how his gut twinged).

And now he possessed two important secrets. One of which waited outside for him.

Charley had just asked where they went from there when the connection blossomed to life in Wally's chest. At midnight. On a weekday.

After how you'd left earlier, Wally was desperate to see you, to hold you, to make sure you were okay, but he wasn't sure how to make a smooth or natural exit.

He could feel how agitated you were. How you beckoned him, needed him, pleaded with your soul for him to find you, fuck, he had to go. Every cell in his metaphysical body was charged and drawn in your direction.

"Earth to Wally, you still with us?" He heard Charley ask and blinked himself back to the present moment.

He slapped on a smile and nodded, "Yeah, sorry, just...thinking about talking to the living." At least it was relevant enough that he didn't have to lie.

Charley looked at Maddie who looked at Rhonda, then all three of them stared at Wally, clearly waiting for him to elaborate.

"It's nothing," He assured, even as the pull of the connection swelled inside him and became more insistent. "Just. I'll be right back." It wasn't smooth, nor was it natural, but it'd have to do. And when everyone cast him looks of concern and confusion, he said, "I'm just going to grab a snack. Anyone want anything?"

Rhonda and Maddie shook their heads, expressions suspecting, but Charley perked up, "Can you see if there are any of those blueberry muffins left?"

"Can do, buddy," Wally saluted and tried to leave at as measured a pace as he could.

‗‗‗‗•‗‗‗‗

Minutes passed and you paced a groove into the grass, hands shoved into the kangaroo pocket of Andrew's hoodie when you weren't combing your fingers through your hair or flapping them along with the angry diatribe in your head. Because who the hell were those deputies to suspect Simon of anything?

Of course, you didn't know the whole story. Simon had only had ten minutes to talk and he'd also been texting Nicole. Probably Mathilda, too, since she'd been on the verge of rabid by the time he was released into his parent's custody.

Fuck this. The connection wasn't working, or maybe Wally was preoccupied, or, who knew, he could be in that strange state of suspension that you'd read about; a whole chapter dedicated to how ghosts basically shut down like robots between the hours, as if not existing at all, until something roused them.

You didn't even know if the connection between you and Wally would be enough to reboot him if he had gone all suspended animation.

Out of patience, you turned to stomp around the side of the building and check the gym door. You knew that's where the ghosts had their unconventional group therapy sessions, and figured it was as good a place as any to start.

"I wouldn't bother." An unfamiliar voice said from behind you in the same instant your shoulder was grabbed in a hard, yet not painful, grip, halting you in your tracks. "It's locked."

"What the hell!?" You whirled around, recoiled, heart in your throat, terrified that it was Mr. Anderson come to do to you what he'd done to Maddie.

It wasn't Mr. Anderson. Rather, it was a tall boy with South Asian features wearing coveralls—the top half rolled down and tied by the sleeves at the waist. His expression was that of astonishment, staring at his hand as if touching you had caused some kind of reaction. A beat, and then he looked up and regarded you in awe.

The longer he stared, the more time you had to process, and with a thick swallow, dread took the place of your earlier panic. You knew exactly who stood in front of you. Arjun "Ajay" Khatwani. Died 1992. Crushed under the belly of a car during Autoshop.

"Oooh, fuck me." You bemoaned, scrubbing your hands over your face.

In the most disinterested voice you'd ever heard, "No thank you," Ajay said, seeming to come out of whatever shocked stupor he'd been in. He didn't beat around the bush, told you directly, "You can't be here right now." And, yeah, you were aware. It was way past your bedtime and students weren't allowed on the grounds after a certain time.

However, studying Ajay, you had a feeling it had nothing to do with the late hour. "Why not?"

He arched a brow and crossed his arms. "I'm not an idiot," He started, "I know you're here to see Wally. Probably because you have information about Simon. Or..." He peered at you studiously before continuing, "you want to find something to help Simon."

Your lips twisted in discomfort. The guy was eerily astute. Sherlock Holmes level deduction that made you want to hide. You weren't about to back down now, though. And, like Ajay had said, you needed to find something to help Simon.

"Congratulations, you caught me. Doesn't change the fact that I am getting into that building and I am going to search that theater."

"Mina isn't on 'lunch'." He air-quoted. How the hell did he know you knew that? "She'll see you there. And she'll see Wally there with you because you two are like fucking salmon to spawning grounds." Ajay mumbled the last part with disdain. Like he'd seen things. "And then your abilities will be discovered by another ghost. And then another and another because, whatever's going on with you these days, you aren't being as careful."

You had absolutely no idea how to respond to that apart from elegantly asking, "What the fuck?" Although, Ajay wasn't wrong. You blamed it on the connection with Wally. How needy and irrational it made you to be in his arms; your lips on his, his hands on you—ahem. Etcetera. "Well...fuck it." You decided, "You're already talking to me. Who cares if Mina finds out?"

Ajay stepped closer to you, voice low, face set stoically, "It's not Mina I'm worried about." However, before he could explain what the very hell that meant, the side door clacked open and Wally emerged, slightly out of breath.

"Baby," He stepped right up to you, gathered you in his arms and kissed you deep, slow, stealing the air from your lungs as he held your face carefully. When he pulled back, he rested his brow against yours, "Fuck, I was so worried. Are you okay?"

"Uhm...no. Not really," You leaned back to point at Ajay, "He knows things."

"Some might say everything," Ajay said, smug, though his face remained deadpan. He looked to Wally, "Where are the others?"

Wally held you tighter, "I told them I was getting a snack." He returned his attention to you, said, "I don't know how much time I have."

"You're not surprised he knows things." You narrowed your eyes at Wally. "Why aren't you surprised he knows things?"

Wally's cheeks reddened and his eyes slanted away. He wasn't who answered the question.

"In his defense, I already knew about you." Ajay said as he moved closer. "Just like I knew about your sister, Aurora."

You felt the ground fall out from under you. Ajay knew Aurora? Aurora, who couldn't see or hear ghosts; who could've easily hidden her connectedness from everyone, had been discovered by a ghost. You'd question whether or not Ajay himself had connectedness if it weren't for the fact that ghosts couldn't. Blood, flesh, and bone were required to make that chemistry work.

Cautious, "Who else knows about Aurora?" You inquired, pressing a mite deeper into Wally's embrace.

Ajay softened around the eyes, gazed at you with sincerity when he assured, "No one. I promise." Then, to Wally, "What do you wanna do, bro? We sneaking her in?"

Wally snorted, "Like we could stop her." He glanced back at you, squeezed your hip when he revealed, "Maddie found something in the theater today. She thinks it'll help clear Simon's name."

Your heart hammered. Were you really going to take the risk?

While you were relieved that there was a way to get the cops off of Simon's back, you still had to figure out how to do that without alerting anyone else to your connectedness. Then again, you thought, apart from Wally, Ajay already knew. You suspected Mina did as well and the only thing that kept her quiet was that she was a residual haunter.

Besides, you wanted Maddie to know you were there for her. That she had more than just Simon on her side. There was strength in numbers and together, maybe with Wally and Simon playing translator since you couldn't actually see or hear her, you could bring Maddie back to where she belonged.

So. Fuck everything. There hadn't been any tears in the universe. The sky hadn't fallen. No storms or swarms or ectoplasmic squalls. Your mother and Ginny had yet to find out. And, you believed, if you and Simon got Mr. Anderson to confess to the whereabouts of Maddie's body, maybe this would all be over before your mother and Ginny ever would find out.

"Bring her." You said with finality, eyes holding Wally's.

Wally frowned, glanced at Ajay with uncertainty, then back at you, "Babe, I don't think I can get her alone right now. She's with Charley and Rhonda, and they're already suspicious. They know I don't snack after 8PM."

It was your turn to frown, "You have food rituals?" Whatever, that was for another time. You waved a hand in dismissal, "I don't care. Bring them. Bring everyone."

"Not everyone," Ajay advised. Sighed. To Wally, "If you do this, know that I support you no matter what. Even if it is digging yourself a second grave."

Startled, you asked, "Wait, what does that mean?"

"Rhonda just barely got over Charley and Maddie not telling her about Simon." Wally said. You could see how nervous he was, "She'll probably rip my limbs off and use them to play mini golf..."

Well, you didn't want that. "So, what do I do?" You could feel your frustration mounting. You wanted to help. You wanted to be useful. But, just like Xavier had done, it seemed Wally and Ajay were forcing you to ride the bench. "Guys," You stepped back, out of Wally's arms, giving them both your most severe expression, "I have these stupid abilities for a reason. Let me use them to help my friends."

"But the rule—" Wally started.

You interrupted, "Fuck the rule! Nothing's happened since you and I started talking."

"A lot more than talking," Ajay muttered to himself.

"I don't care about the rule, I don't care about being swarmed by ghosts and their unfinished business. I. Don't. Care." You took a deep breath, repeated the mantra Ginny had taught you, and then spoke again when you were calm, "Wally, if you don't want them to know we've already been talking, fine. We'll figure out a way to work around that. But I'm going into that theater tonight and there's nothing either of you can do to stop me." You stared both Ajay and Wally down. "So you can help me, or you can get the fuck out of my way."

Wally threw his hands up, a smirk playing on his lips, "Whoa, baby, we get it." He snatched you around the waist and dragged you against him, smirk widening as he gazed down at you, "We're on your team." And then, lower, in your ear, "You're sexy when you get all bossy, you know that?"

Pained, "I'm right here," Ajay reminded the world at large.

‗‗‗‗•‗‗‗‗

The plan was simple. First, get you into the school and then to the roof undetected (the security guard, Barry, never checked the roof because, really, who would?). It was the safest place to meet and have what Wally predicted was going to be a long and heated discussion.

Second, Ajay would go retrieve Rhonda, Charley, and Maddie from the library—sans blueberry muffin, sorry Chuck. Wally would wait with you on the roof while Ajay explained to the others that there was someone who could help Maddie help Simon.

Third, introduce Rhonda and Charley to you, and pray to every god Wally could name that Rhonda was feeling charitable with her forgiveness. Could ghosts have heart palpitations? Because Wally was having heart palpitations.

Ajay had suggested that he and Wally lie; that Ajay pretend to have been your ghostly contact, and Wally had happened to stumble upon you and him on his way to the cafeteria. A decent enough deception except that the connection between you and Wally refused to let him go more than a minute without touching you.

"You sure you don't wanna do what Ajay said?" You ask quietly, leaning into Wally's side as you and he sat against the low ledge that followed the perimeter of the roof. "I could totally act like I've never met you before."

Wally huffed, grinned, looked at you skeptically, "No way could you do that." He pulled you in closer, long arm around you, big hand on your bare thigh. Fuck. Those little sleep shorts you wore gave him ideas and he wished he'd asked for a few minutes alone with you before executing the plan.

"Oh, you think I can't act? You haven't even seen me try!" You argued playfully, beaming up at him, marbled eyes bright and beautiful and already drawing Wally in.

"Fine," Wally conceded, "Maybe it's me. Maybe I can't act like I don't know you," and dipped in to brush his lips against yours, his hand lifting to caress your jaw and angle your head how he wanted you. "Maybe I can't act like I don't want you," Another kiss, "Every." Kiss. "Fucking." Kiss. "Second." And he tugged you into his lap, hands automatically finding your ass, tongue in your mouth, heart beating wildly in his chest as tingly heat coiled tight in his belly.

He groaned when you pulled away, cute little smirk on your face, "Your friends will be here in a minute. Do you really want them to see me dry humping you when they get here?"

"I really couldn't care less," Wally pouted as he leaned in to kiss you again. Short. Soft. But effective. He took your left hand and brought the back of it to his lips, pressed gentle, dry kisses along the length of your scar. Heaved a sigh and said, "Alright, maybe I care a little."

But you weren't looking at him anymore. Your attention was on your hand, gaze distant, mouth downturned, and Wally could feel the sorrow seeping from your pores like it was his own. As he was about to ask if you were okay, you began to speak.

"Six years ago...my little brother died." You said, voice hushed and strained. Your eyes misted and body trembled so minutely Wally almost didn't feel it beneath his hands. He rubbed your thighs in comfort as you continued to stare at your hand, now resting on Wally's shoulder. A stuttered breath and, "It was my fault."

Wally didn't want to ask how it'd happened, scared to upset you, but you were already there, back in time, reliving the past. Gently, "You don't have to talk about it, pretty girl. It's okay."

You shook your head. Blinked the tears out of your eyes and used the sleeves of your hoodie to wipe them away. "No, I said I would. And I want to." At his skeptical look, "I do." You gave Wally a watery smile, quick and genuine. "He fell down the stairs at an old farmhouse. One of those heritage places in town, you know? We went in to get out of the rain and he wandered off..." Something flickered across your eyes as you pulled the memory to the fore.

A glimmer that was almost lost beneath the marbled colors. It was gone so fast, Wally had to assume he'd imagined it.

"How'd you get the scar?" He asked, so quiet, so afraid to do anything that might perforate the intimate bubble that had formed around you and him.

You stared at your scar again, blinked slowly, opened and closed your mouth a couple of times before finally saying, "Loose nail in the floorboard. I...slipped...fell...running down the stairs to get to Aiden."

Wally winced sympathetically, lifted his hand to place it over yours, and turned to kiss your palm. That must've been one hell of an awkward fall. He couldn't picture it, how your body would have had to have contorted in order for the nail to catch the back of your hand. You must've gone head over heels trying to get to your little brother.

"It wasn't your fault." He said, soft yet firm.

"You weren't there," You whispered, breath caught in your chest, eyes filled with a regret and anguish that stabbed Wally through the connection.

Not knowing what else to do, he held your jaw tenderly in his palms and kissed you. Stroked his thumbs across the arches of your cheeks to swipe away the dampness. "It's not your fault." He repeated, imploring, eyes flickering between yours.

"Wow." A snide voice cut through the bubble of intimacy between you and him. "You weren't kidding. They really can't keep their hands off each other."

Wally peeked around you and gulped.

💀___________________________

PART TWENTY - PART TWENTY-TWO

also available on AO3!

MASTERLIST

[detailtilted]

Any movie aficionados have any guesses on this one? (Subtitling help request.)

Edit: With huge thanks to @arwenadreamer and @sensitivehandsomeactionman, the mystery has been solved... Good Will Hunting!

Original Post:

I'm teetering on the border of just letting this one go because I don't think the context is very critical to understand Jared's point, but I thought I'd check here before I gave up!

I can't figure out the movie(?) he says after Lawrence of Arabia. This video was recorded in March 2008 at LACON so it has to have been something known by then. He implies that he's referring to "great movies and classic movies", so I don't think it's an obscure example, I'm just not much of a movie watcher.

Things I've considered but couldn't convince myself made sense:

The Wanting (This is what it sounded like the most to my ears, but in the context of "great movies and classic movies", I couldn't find anything that seemed relevant.)

The Haunting (This might fit the context better, but I can't convince myself he's saying Haunting because I think there's definitely a 'wa' sound in there like in "won" or "one". Unless he stumbled over the word and accidentally reversed the vowel sounds, pronouncing it huanting? Which actually does sound a lot like what he's saying.)

"the one thing" (This was a grasping-at-straws interpretation, but it doesn't really sound like that to me. My theory behind this was that maybe he only listed one specific movie and then changed to being non-specific such as "I can say this thing or that thing or the one thing or the other thing".)

It might also be in another language, or a name more common in other countries? I tried looking for titles with "Juan" for example.

I also read long lists of two-word movie titles starting with "The"... after which point I decided I'd probably put more effort into this than it really warrants. 😂 And maybe the first syllable isn't even actually "The", but that's all I can hear.

If the consensus is that he probably just misspoke the word "haunting" or something like that, I'll just leave it as [inaudible] and not put anything in the sidebar for it since I don't feel like we can be very confident. But I thought maybe there's something I'm missing due to lack of knowledge that would seem obvious to someone else and would make everything make sense. It wouldn't be the first time!

Whether you have some miraculous answer or just quietly listen and shake your head in perplexed commiseration, I appreciate you all for letting me occasionally drag you into my subtitling madness. 💗💙 (On the bright side, the audio for this panel was actually pretty good and most of it has been easy to subtitle. It was a breath of fresh air after that breakfast video!)

[ethicaltreatmentofcowplants]

WATCHER: A poolside shoot? In Brindleton Bay, early March? JAI: Yes? WATCHER: They're your pixels to freeze off, I guess ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

JAI WOODARD for @cawthorntales's JAXON BC

NAME: Jai Woodard AGE: 23ish (young adult) HOME WORLD: Brindleton Bay OCCUPATION: Model TRAITS: Hot-Headed, Materialistic, Childish ASPIRATION: Party Animal LIKES: Cross-Stitch, Guitar, Fitness, Complains, Affection, Black, Flirtation, Gardening, Mixology, Compliments, Red, Physical Intimacy DISLIKES: Video Gaming, Violin, Malicious Interactions, Potty Humour, Arguments, Painting, Cooking, Paino

We all adored Jaxon in @akitasimblr's Mad About Dodo bachelor challenge - and now he has his own spin off! Jai is likely... not quite the contestant he deserves. But he is the contestant Jaxon has nonetheless.

Jai is not so much a bad person as he is self absorbed and immature. He was the stereotypical glasses wearing geeky kid until he was old enough to wear contacts, then puberty hit him with a banger. Once he realised that he could coast off his looks, it brought out some less ideal aspects of his character - and it doesn't exactly help that he's in an industry where his appearance is actually his work.

He's also an only child - and unfortunately with two professional parents who had more money than time for him - you can totally tell.

Will this experience help Jai to shed his superficial ways and bring out some hidden core of sweetness? We shall see.

[ifwebefriends]

Tumblr Moments 2024

January

Steamboat Willie goes into the public domain

Luca x Alberto (Luberto) fanart from the story lead and co-director of Ciao Alberto dropped

Talking about the Percy Jackson TV show

TF2 Heavymedic is canon

MatPat announces his retirement from hosting Game Theory

The Hbomberguy death note post

Confused Ryan Gosling at the critics choice awards

Talking about Hazbin Hotel

Star Trek Threshold Day

The Elmo Twitter ask comic

Sonic X Shadow Generations Trailer Drop

February

Sonic 3 film teaser trailer drop

King Charles III gets diagnosed with cancer

Knuckles series trailer dropped

Deadpool and Wolverine trailer dropped

QSMP at the streamer awards

David Tennant at BAFTA 2024

Nimona drops on YouTube for free with subtitles

Photomatt being transphobic and people talking about it/making jokes about it

Pokémon Z is announced

James Somerton releases his response to Hbomberguy

March

Marijuana-induced tragedy prediction tweet

Dune part two came out

Minecraft wolf update

Roosterteeth shut down

Celebrating Akira Toriyama

Cursed cat Alastor

The entire FNAF movie on Spotify

The Bride and the Ugly Ass Groom

Waiting for ConcernedApe to finish his coffee for the Stardew Valley update

Avatar the last airbender started trending for seemingly no reason

April

The Great Boopening of 2024

Dan and Phil Crafts comes back for April Fools after seven years

Smosh Shourtney WeddingGate

Buck on ABC’s 911 is bisexual

20th anniversary Dannypocalypse

10-year-anniversary of Captain America: The Winter Soldier

The Solar Eclipse

1-year anniversary of the Owl House Finale

The Magnus Protocal episode drops

Keanu Reeves revealed to be playing Shadow in the Sonic 3 Movie

Friendpilled visitmaxxer

Yuri On Ice movie cancelled

Watcher paywall controversy

Beta The Owl House Bible dropped

Dungeon Meshi boobs gif

Helluva Boss Season 2B trailer dropped

Destiel would have been “balls deep” if CW hadn’t blocked it

Arizona Diamondbacks game is delayed due to bees

It’s Gonna Be May

May

Fighting off spam bots invading the #asexual tag

The Amazing Digital Circus episode 2

Classic tumblr star @justgirlythings got married to her girlfriend now wife

Kendrick Lamar and Drake beef unexpectedly gets onto tumblr

FaceTiming fan at a concert meme

Tears of the Kingdom 1-year anniversary

First look at The Last of Us Season 2

Supernatural actors DJ Qualls and Ty Ollson announce their engagement to each other

The King Charles portrait

Slurpy faggi, the first AI generated gay Star Wars character

Death of Kabosu, the dog from the Doge meme

Jensen Ackles talks about Destiel at purcon and says the confession scene was clearly romantic

Pope calls everyone a faggot by accident

Phil Lester goes blonde

Rebecca Sugar posts pearlrose art of Pearl shapeshifting into Greg at some point

Donald Trump found guilty of 34 felony charges

Helluva Boss Full Moon drop

June

Venom: The Last Dance trailer dropped

Jason Todd from the DC universe died again but was brought back quickly

Dragon Age: The Veilguard drop

House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 1 release

Nintendo Direct that announced various games including but not limited to: a new Mario&Luigi game, a new Legend of Zelda game where you can play as Zelda, and an official translation of Ace Attorney Investigations 2 that has been region locked for 13 years

Doctor Who sutekh

Helluva Boss Apology Tour dropped

Presidential Debate

Urusei Yatsura opening parodies

Old unuploaded Technoblade video was uploaded to the Technoblade channel, mcyt fandom reacts

July

Ao3 down for maintenance for 10 hours

An Extremely Goofy Movie trends because of Maxley

Crowdstrike worldwide Bluescreen day

Moon Landing Day

Biden dropping out of the race Supernatural trending

“I’m not calling you a good boy” meme

Gravity Falls the Book of Bill drops

August

Olympics Chocolate Muffin guy

Deadpool and Wolverine releases

Why dis [____] look so mad? Meme

Legend of Zelda Echoes of Wisdom second trailer drop

Snoop Dogg and Martha Stewart at the Olympics

Christmas trends for some reason

Drawing Hatsune Miku from different cultures

Sonic movie 3 trailer drops

Helluva Boss short Weaboo boo drop

September

Our Flag Means Death September 1st dickwads gif

Aftermath of Hatsune Miku’s birthday

Minecraft movie trailer drop

Ace Attorney Investigations Collection drop

Dracula Daily September 8th entry

Taylor Swift at the VMAs

Venom: The Last Dance Final Trailer drop

Friday the 13th

Dead Boy Detectives gets canceled by Netflix

Undertale 9th anniversary

Steven Universe Pearl x Greg art comes out that may or may not be by Rebecca Sugar themselves

October

Spooky month begins once again 🎃

October 3rd, a special day in many fan circles including Mean Girls, Full Metal Alchemist, Dracula Daily, Milo Murphy’s Law, and the nation of Germany

The Amazing Digital Circus episode 3

Out of Touch Thursday Friday

Minecraft Live new update

Digital Circus 1st anniversary

Sunrise on the Reaping cover drop

Rickrolling Wikipedia article poll

Sonic x Shadow Generations drop

Vatican reveals anime girl mascot Luce

Boops return for Halloween

November

Election anniversary of November 5th 2020

Arcane season 2 drop

My Chemical Romance announces new tour

DreamSMP world download drop

Spirk became canon

Sonic and Shadow twitter takeover reactions

Sonic 3 poster drop

Arcane season finale with three ship kisses

Helluva Boss Mastermind drops

December

Luigi Mangione

Dan and Phil won an RPF poll against Jesus Christ and Judas Escariot

Okami sequel gets announced at Game Awards 2024

Helluva Boss Sinsmas drop

Sonic 3 movie drop

Hazbin Hotel Abel drop

[talanashta]

Missing Piece

For the prompt "mixed orientation relationship" here for @fourormore

Rating: T | No CWs | Word Count: 1162 | Pairings: QPR Stobin, (Background) Spicy Six Plus Chrissy Polycule Additional Tags: Weird Stobin, Platonic Romance, Robin's POV

Continuation of the "my lonely days are gone" series. Read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7

A/N: Thank you to @devondespresso for their help on this fic!

Steve was everything to her. Before that night in the mall bathroom, before being captured by the Russians, she hadn’t realized she was missing so much of herself, feeling so hollow inside, but once they got home from the hospital that night, she felt it. Being whole for the first time ever.

She hadn’t realized, but she started crying as soon as her parents started walking her away from Steve to take her home. They were barely down the hallway and out of sight from him when she let out a high-pitched whine, freaking her mom out like crazy. (She felt like she was dying. Like someone was carving that newly found piece of herself out of her chest. She had no idea what was happening; she still hadn’t realized that piece was there just yet.)

Then, footsteps came running down the hall to them, and Steve burst around the corner, throwing his arms around her, and that was it. He ended up coming home with her that night, her parents not even bothering to try and separate them.

The next morning, all her mother said was, “He seems like a really sweet boy. Just try not to get pregnant before you finish school, Birdie,” ignoring the face Robin made at her.

As summer wound on, she began to understand maybe why her parents thought they were a couple. They spent most nights together – either the whole night or at least the evening. Her parents weren’t big TV watchers, so when Steve came over, they’d snuggle on the couch and put on whatever they wanted. Then on nights where the nightmares were bad, he’d crawl into her window. (Her parents put the kabosh on him staying the night after the first week or so after Starcourt. Liberal hippies they may be, but she wasn’t 18 yet, so she ‘couldn’t be having sleepovers like that yet’, and no amount of explaining got them to think she and Steve weren’t dating.)

She spent a lot of time at his house too. Mostly any time his parents weren’t home, which was… most weeks now. (According to Steve, his parents left full-time as soon as he turned 18, only visiting occasionally to make sure he hadn’t burned their house down.)

When they weren’t together, she felt like she was lost at sea with no land in sight. She knew he felt the same way, too; he’d confessed it to her one night in August, whispered under the covers in the dead of night. (She was so mad some days at Nancy Wheeler for how much she hurt Steve, and while she knew Steve had long forgiven Nancy, she thought she never fully would. She’d always carry that grudge for Steve, since he was too kind-hearted to.)

(Where Steve fell short, she made up for it. Where she struggled, he picked up the slack.)

Come October, they started a new job together. (She bullied Keith into scheduling them together for most of their shifts, but she was still in school, so sometimes they had to be separate while he worked days.) The Family Video was nice enough.

With her days filled spending time with Steve, the school year seemed to fly by. Right up until March, when Vecna-slash-Henry-slash-One made his grand appearance. (She was missing the prints now on some of her fingers.)

After that, Chrissy and Eddie joined the group.

One day at work, Steve pulled her into the grimy bathroom, the two of them sitting leaned against opposite walls. “I think I like Eddie,” he told her.

“I know,” was all she needed to say back. (Of course she knew. She knew Steve like breathing.)

“He’s dating Chrissy.”

“Yeah.”

“I really like both of them.”

“I like Chrissy, too.”

“Fuck.”

It ended up working out, all four of them. (Which was quite the surprise to her, honestly. And very… forward-thinking for a place like Hawkins. But since there were four of them, two boys and two girls, it was easy to hide. After all, no one ever believed her when she said she wasn’t dating Steve.)

So SteveandRobin became SteveandRobinandChrissyandEddie in their friends’ minds (which was quite a mouthful). They even started all sleeping in the same bed long before they all moved in together.

No matter how close she got with Chrissy, though, or how close Steve got with both of them, it never felt like they felt about each other. (She could feel it deep in her chest. When she died, it’d be the two of them together, whether that was in sixty years or six – hopefully not that soon, but she never knew, what with the Upside Down. She’d never be without him again, and he’d never be without her.)

(If they could become one person, they would.)

(They were already almost there anyway.)

Nancy and Jonathan and Argyle moved in, eventually. She liked Argyle, and Jonathan was okay. Nancy was… pretty, and sometimes they slept together for fun. (But she’d never forget what happened to Steve.)

Still, she and Steve didn’t change.

The kids got older, and the seven of them had additional partners come and go. People they liked outside their Party that weren’t involved in the Upside Down. No one was permanent like the seven of them were. (Though Eden came close. She just didn’t want to move in with them. Robin understood. Why would you want to move out of one rowdy household just to move into another?)

Still, they stayed the same.

Then he proposed. (This wasn’t really a surprise to her, in the end. Without a ring on her finger, no one outside their small group acknowledged how important they were to each other.)

“My parents are going to think they were right all along.”

“I know. Do you think they’d care if I became a Buckley too?”

“They’d love it. Especially my dad.”

“Really?”

“Of course. They love you.”

They kissed for the first time at the ceremony, and it felt like coming home. (There was no heat or passion when they kissed, but she could feel the platonic love coming from him as their lips met.)

So it ended up not being the last time. He’d peck her in greeting sometimes, or she’d kiss him goodbye. (Never anything more or less than a quick meeting of their lips, but it still felt more intimate than anything she’d ever done before.)

(She never kissed any of the other guys in their group, and she never would. Just Steve. He was always different.)

(He would always be different.)

And now they were married, and no one could keep them apart.

(God, she wasn’t looking forward to birthing six kids for this man.)

(...)

(Of course, she wanted to have kids with him. Just… birth? She watched the same video as everyone else in Sex Ed, and she was not looking forward to getting those kids out, is all she could say.)

(The things she did for him.)

[lorspolairepeluche]

The Murder of Rooks

The six of them got their collective nickname all at the same time: as Varric was exiting a tavern into a rainy street, he saw his group of seconds-in-command tucked together, all with their dark cloaks pulled close and hoods up to protect from the weather. He laughed and said, "You all look like a group of disgruntled black birds."

(am no artist and don't got screenshots, so picrews and info beneath the cut!)

Sario "Rio" Laidir (they/them): Spellblade Lord of Fortune.

Rio was born to a human woman and a Dalish man in a pirate town on the coast of Rivain. The clan their father belongs to is one of the few mostly-stationary ones -- they protect an archive of knowledge in an ancient glassy tower in the town. Some of them still itch to move, however -- and those are the ones that become the town's pirates -- and defenders. Rio's mother was part of the crew the hahren captained, and they spent half their childhood on the sea. Captain ("Admiral") Isabela stopped at the port on her way north around 9:42 Dragon, and (with their parents' knowledge and reluctant but fond blessing) Sario hopped aboard her ship, joining her as one of the Lords of Fortune. The rest is infamy.

(Likes shiny things. Really likes shiny things. And despite everything, Rio thinks Lucanis shines like a sun.)

Candiano "Candy" de Riva (she/her): Duelist Antivan Crow.

Candy was the rare -- and extremely illegitimate -- result of a union between an elf and a dwarf. The Crows, as Crows do, bought her took her in when she was young, and she was trained raised from that young age to be a deadly operative. There's not much love lost between her and her former "family." When the Antaam invaded Treviso, Candy's partner (take whichever meaning you will; most of them apply) Allegria was killed. It made Candy more reckless, and it may have had a hand in her decision to liberate Antaam hostages at the expense of a larger Crow operation. She wasn't sad to leave.

(Still. She and Davrin learn together from Assan that in a world of darkness, one must look for the light. One must be the light and find the light in others.)

Korvinian "Korbl" Ingellvar (he/him); Slayer Mourn Watcher

An infant dwarf was decidedly low on whatever list of expectations Mourn Watcher Konstanze Ingellvar had when she went out to perform her routine rituals in the Necropolis, but there it was. She took the child in, taught the ways of the Watchers as she parented, and her adoptee grew up among graves, bones, and spirits. Stanze knew from almost the start that her child would grow up to be a patient, thoughtful, respectful, and strong man -- despite the fact that the shortsighted would perceive him as a woman, and despite his youthful dreams of becoming one of the famed Nevarran dragonslayers. Luckily for him, his adoptive mother can be aptly described as "juuust this side of mad scientist," so she was happy to help him present how he wished to.

(Patient and thoughtful were qualities mirrored in Neve Gallus, and before long, the two of them were gravitating toward each other for more than just that.)

Irhim "Irri" Aldwir (he/him), Veil Ranger

The Veil Jumpers found the new Tal-Vashoth after he escaped from his platoon just outside Arlathan Forest. Once he'd convinced them he was no threat -- and once he'd been given some water -- he explained himself. He was an Ashaad of the garrison of Antaam that were held in reserve to march on Tevinter cities, but the forest just to their east reawakened something in him -- a curiosity and fascination with magic that he'd had to tamp down even before he was assigned to the Antaam. The pull of it became irresistible, and he ran. The Veil Jumpers, always in need of skilled scouts and fighters, eventually accepted him into their cohort, and he adopted the name Irhim -- loosely translated as "I am become" -- for the new self he found among the trees and ancient magic.

(The fascination extends to most kinds of magic -- especially Emmrich's gentle form of necromancy. It helps that Irri finds himself charmed by the mage himself too.)

Whitaker “Whit” Thorne (they/them), Grey Warden Champion

A Free Marcher by birth, Whit remembers well the day their little sister’s magic manifested — too soon after the fall of the Kirkwall Circle, and too close to the city itself, for the people in their village to react with anything but fear. They wanted no mages there, and they wanted no templars coming to collect mages, either. The Thornes were run out of town, at the cost of Whit’s father’s life. Their mother died of illness as a refugee on Tevinter’s borders, and at all of seventeen years old, Whit was not strong enough to protect their sister from the squad of Templars who found them not long after. It was sheer luck — and a suspicion of templars — that meant a Grey Warden found them in time to call the right of conscription to save Whit’s life. He managed to make the templars back off, and he did his best to comfort Whit and help them bury their sister. Whit did end up going with him and undergoing the Joining, and life as a Warden was kinder to them, somehow. But they weren’t about to let anyone else die if they could help it.

(And maybe being semi-exiled turned out okay, since it led them to meet a certain Lord of Fortune whose fire breath had Whit sweating for more than one reason.)

Kyrie “Kyr” Mercar (she/her), Shadow Dragon Evoker

Kyr has no memory of parents beyond a vague, early notion. She remembers only running with her fellow orphans and urchins, including her older sister, through Minrathous streets. Her magic was used to create distractions, get away from angry shop owners from whom their cabal stole, and ward off civilians who got pissed at a group of dirty kids for daring to exist in public. It’s difficult to say whether Kyr found the Shadow Dragons or vice versa — but what’s certain is that they nurtured the righteous anger in her and shaped her into something more directed and powerful than a kid who spat sparks. (Kinda bit them in the ass when she fucked up an entire slaver ring on her own, but she was starting to get restless in the small-time stuff anyway.)

(Then it’s suddenly very extremely big-time stuff, and the cynicism Kyr developed on the streets is challenged and softened by a bright-eyed and brilliant Veil Jumper.)

(bonus fact: the tinted glasses are because i unfortunately gave her the Migraine Haver trait)

[pearlsoflongago]

March Days

The Newest Season

Calligraphic Galleon, Ottoman, by Abdul Qadir Hisari

Cargoes

Quinquireme of Nineveh from distant Ophir, Rowing home to haven in sunny Palestine, With a cargo of ivory, And apes and peacocks, Sandalwood, cedarwood, and sweet white wine.

Stately Spanish galleon coming from the Isthmus, Dipping through the Tropics by the palm-green shores, With a cargo of diamonds, Emeralds, amethysts, Topazes, and cinnamon, and gold moidores.

Dirty British coaster with a salt-caked smoke stack, Butting through the Channel in the mad March days, With a cargo of Tyne coal, Road-rails, pig-lead, Firewood, iron-ware, and cheap tin trays.

--John Masefield

Buttonwood Farm by N. C. Wyeth

A Fairy-Tale Spring

And then she danced….

Where are you, Hyacinth? There is a lover waiting for you somewhere, my dear.

It is the first of Spring. The blackbird opens his yellow beak, and whistles cool and clear. There is blue magic in the morning; the sky, deep-blue above, melts into white where it meets the hills. The wind waits for you up yonder—will you go to meet it? Ah, stay here! The hedges have put on their green coats for you; misty green are the tall elms from which the rooks are chattering. Along the clean white road, between the primrose banks, he comes. Will you be round this corner?——or the next? He is looking for you, Hyacinth.

(She rested, breathless, and then danced again.)

It is summer afternoon. All the village is at rest save one. "Cuck-oo!" comes from the deep dark trees; "Cuck-oo!" he calls again, and flies away to send back the answer. The fields, all green and gold, sleep undisturbed by the full river which creeps along them. The air is heavy with the scent of may. Where are you, Hyacinth? Is not this the trysting-place? I have waited for you so long! . . .

She stopped, and the watcher in the bushes moved silently away, his mind aflame with fancies.

—A. A. Milne, from Once on a Time

Lovers in a Landscape by Muhammadi

Spring

VII

O Eyes, go forth the Spring to view, That smiles upon our Plains anew. A Heavenly Child in cradling Flowers, Sweet Breath from Skies unclouded drew. The Morning Breeze his Nurse, that rocked His Cradle, with soft Lullings due. The Baby feigns to sleep, and blinks, Shutting his little Eyelids two. And when the Lids are oped again, The Eyebrows drip with sparkling Dew. The Bees hum round and busy sip The Nectar, and make Honey new. O come, and let the Baby's smiles And Laughter, pierce thee through and through. O come, and leave your wintry Cell, And let Heaven's Light thy Life renew. And build new Cells with honey'd Wax, Plann'd like the Bees' six-sided, true. And warmed by radiant Fire of Flowers, Old Winter's reign of Death undo. Regret is dead; Love lives again; New Life transforms the Landscape's Hue. Bold enter, then, green Spring's loved Haunts, And drink fresh Wine, nor fear to rue. And drinking full Love's sweetest Draught, The glowing Heart new Love shall woo. Love wakes afresh in Earth and Heaven; The Rose in green, the Sun in blue. O Nightingale, behold thy Rose! O Eagle, thy bright Sun pursue!

—Jeláleddín Rumi, translated by William Hastie, DD

Woman with a Spray of Flowers from Safavid Iran circa 1575

[chuckle-lore]

Episode 8- March 21st, 2021- Day two of Chuckle Lore Week

Disclaimer: Sorry for going out of order for this one folks. My mom watches these episodes with me whenever I take notes in the living room and she is not a fan of Swagger Souls lol. Episodes 6 and 7 will be posted by the end of this/the beginning of next week, hope y’all don’t mind :)

Lore: Swagger was a member for only one day because couldn’t handle it

Thoughts: I enjoyed this episode, it’s not my favorite out of the would you rather series but it was an absolute delight to listen to everyone slow down a little to talk about their heroes and the balance between what they’re passionate about and what works on youtube. It’s just so refreshing to hear those kinds of conversations every now and then, as a little treat. 7.5/10, yeah :)

Things I noted:

Ted and Schlatt had a lil’ witch laugh (I didn’t timestamp that and I’m mad about it)

Charlie’s vegetable of the episode was carrots

The among us joke fucking got me 💀

41:20 Ted says in three years time Schlatt would have his first single by now. It’s been three years and Schlatt has his cover of My Way (I just think it’s neat)

Audio listeners AND video watchers get a love you to death

Ted kinda has baby face in this episode

Not as edited as episode five

(Original notes + important comment under the cut)

[filmtvsummaries]

The Next Step

About the show:

The Next Step is a Canadian show that first aired in March of 2013 and was created by Frank van Keeken. As of 2024 the show is still running with season 9 being realised.

The show follows dancers from The Next Step Dance Studio as they battle their way to becoming the best studio in the world while also dealing with the troubles of teen life like relationships, friendships and in-fighting for top dancer.

There are multiple side shows that include ‘The Off Season’, which is a short web-series on the offical YouTube channel, ‘Lost & Found Music Studios’, which is a side show about music, and ‘Taking The Next Step’ which was a competition to find new dancers for guest roles in the main show. There were also multiple live tours, one of which made ‘The Next Step Live: The Movie’

My Notes:

These summaries/opinions are not my first time watching. The only season I haven’t seen is 9 because it isn’t on Stan yet. While writing I will try and express how I felt when I first watched it as if I don’t know what will happen next. That being said, if I say I feel a certain way about a character when they first appear that doesn’t mean I actually feel that way now that I’ve seen them grow. 

Because I have seen this show mostly all the way through I won’t be making predictions about what will happen next. I might forget some things that happen, but I will express that for that episodes summary/opinion.

I also want to mention that I am a dancer, but I did not grow up dancing, I am not good, I can recognise to some level what is and isn’t good technique, but I’m no professional.

Please remember that part of this is opinions. This could include characters, couples and dances I like or don’t like. Just because I don’t like something or someone you like, doesn’t mean I am wrong.

This is clearly going to have spoilers. If you are a new watcher and haven’t seen certain episodes don’t get mad at me that you read spoilers.

Each summary will include: 

The plot of the episode like important events

Characters we meet

Relationships that arise

My own opinions (may include my favourite dance or what my favourite moment was)

DISCLAIMER

NOT A PROFESSIONAL REVIEWER

Wattpad:

Season 1

Episode 1 - 'Get This Party Started'

Episode 2 - 'Everybody Dance Now'

[watcherwiki]

Watcher March Madness

This is round three of the tournament. All other polls in this round can be found here. Please reblog to support your favorite Watcher show and get it more votes!

This is all for fun and every show is incredible! There are no losers here. Please keep comments positive when campaigning for your faves.

[askbomb]

We're foot—slog—slog—slog—sloggin' over Mystera

Foot—foot—foot—foot—sloggin' over Mystera --

(Boots—boots—boots—boots—movin' up and down again!)

There's no discharge in the war!

Seven—six—eleven—five—nine-an'-twenty mile to-day

Four—eleven—seventeen—thirty-two the day before --

(Boots—boots—boots—boots—movin' up and down again!)

There's no discharge in the war!

Don't—don't—don't—don't—look at what's in front of you.

(Boots—boots—boots—boots—movin' up an' down again);

Men—men—men—men—men go mad with watchin' em,

An' there's no discharge in the war!

Count—count—count—count—the arrows in the bandoliers.

If—your—eyes—drop—they will get atop o' you!

(Boots—boots—boots—boots—movin' up and down again) --

There's no discharge in the war!

We—can—stick—out—'unger, thirst, an' weariness,

But—not—not—not—not the chronic sight of 'em,

Boot—boots—boots—boots—movin' up an' down again,

An' there's no discharge in the war!

'Taint—so—bad—by—day because o' company,

But night—brings—long—strings—o' forty thousand million

Boots—boots—boots—boots—movin' up an' down again.

There's no discharge in the war!

I—'ave—marched—seven—months in 'Ell an' certify

It—is—not—Watchers—devils, dark, or anything,

But boots—boots—boots—boots—movin' up an' down again,

An' there's no discharge in the war!

Try—try—try—try—to think o' something different

Oh—my—Void—keep—me from goin' lunatic!

(Boots—boots—boots—boots—movin' up an' down again!)

There's no discharge in the war!

(This poem is called Boots!

"Boots" is a poem by English author and poet Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936). It was first published in 1903, in his collection The Five Nations.

"Boots" imagines the repetitive thoughts of a British Army infantryman marching in South Africa during the Second Boer War. It has been said that if the first four words in each line are read at the rate of two words to the second, that gives the time to which a British foot soldier was accustomed to march.

I thought this poem fit Bomb's thoughts during his war on his home server, so i changed judt a few words, bur I reccomend reading and listening to the original poem to both honor it and to understand the Insanity behind it.)

[barkercast]

469 : Boom Hellraiser P11 – Bestiary

In the Clive Barker Podcast, long-time fans Ryan and Jose interview guests, bring you the news, and take deep dives into Barker-related stuff.  In Episode 469, We conclude our series discussing the Boom Studios Hellraiser comics with Bestiary 4-6.  Before that we get into some Jericho and Book release news.  

Sponsor : Don Bertram’s Celebrate Imagination | Pinterest | ETSY Store

Take a look at “The Truth Behind It All, ” “The Sun Watchers” and  “The Descendant“

Check Out his videos going over the original painting “The Bug Brothers” and his intro to the 35th Anniversary screening of Hellraiser.

Patreon Members Shout-Out (Become a Patron)

David Anderson

Erik Van T’ Holt

Daniel Elven

Amanda Stewart

Returning Sponsor: Don Bertram’s Celebrate Imagination 

What’s New for our Patreon Subscribers

A Story With No Title

Don Bertram’s Memories of Clive Barker’s A-A of Horror

BarkerCast Recap: A Conversation With Editor and Author Stephen Jones

News From The Reef

Update on the Jump Tribe ARC – March 2025

Update Again on the Jericho Upscale Project

Century Guild found some copies of Imaginer 1

Ryan’s Studio Project

Discussion: Boom Studios Hellraiser

Hellraiser Bestiary #4 – November, 2014

Study

W: Lela Gwen | A: Daniele Serra

And God Will Send His Angels

W: Christian Francis, Ben Meares | A: Huseyin Ozkan

The Hunted, Part Four

W: Ben Meares & Mark Miller | A: Carlos Magno

Hellraiser Bestiary #5 – December, 2014

Don’t Look

W: Michael Moreci | A: Paolo Villanelli

Folie A Deux

W: Valerie D; Orazio | A: Vincent Nappi

The Hunted, Part Five

W: Ben Meares & Mark Miller | A: Carlos Magno

Hellraiser Bestiary #6 – January, 2015

A Place For Every Thing

W: Christopher Sebula| A: Matt Battaglia

The Science of Madness

W: Christian Francis, Ben Meares| A: Peter Bergting

The Hunted, Part Six

W: Ben Meares & Mark Miller | A: Carlos Magno

Final Thoughts on the Future of Hellraiser 

Show Notes

Episode 144: The Body Book and Hellraiser Anthology

Coming Next 

Hellraiser Quartet of Torment Disc 4

 News and Interviews

Jericho Squad 77

Bookclub of Blood

And this podcast, having no beginning will have no end. 

web www.clivebarkercast.com

iOS App| Android App, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Android, Stitcher, Spotify, Pandora, Libsyn, Tunein, iHeart Radio, Pocket Casts, Google Play, Radio.com, DoubleTwist and YouTube and Join the Occupy Midian group

Discord Community

Twitter: @BarkerCast| @OccupyMidian 

Buy Our Book: The BarkerCast Interviews Occupy Midian | Hardcover | Kindle | Apple

Become a Patreon Patron

Support the show, Buy a T-Shirt

Music is by Ray Norrish

All Links and show notes in their Entirety can be found at http://www.clivebarkercast.com

            New episode of the Clive Barker Podcast

[xtruss]

How Birdwatching’s Biggest Record Threw Its Online Community Into Chaos

In late 2023, Peter Kaestner was about to log his 10,000th bird species seen in the wild. Then Jason Mann showed up

— Kari Paul | Sunday 24 March 2024

In late 2023, 70-year-old birder Peter Kaestner was within striking distance of a goal that had never been accomplished: seeing more than 10,000 different species of birds in the wild.

Such a record had previously been unthinkable, but with new technology facilitating rare bird sightings, improved DNA testing identifying a growing number of bird species, and public listing platforms making it easier to keep track of and share findings, more super-birders are inching towards the five digits.

Just as Kaestner approached the finish line for his record 10,000 birds, though, a previously unknown competitor by the name Jason Mann flew in out of nowhere to snatch the record out from under him.

The mystery birder seemed to have uploaded a backlog of thousands of species he had seen over several decades to now-defunct birding site Surfbirds.com, listing more than 9,000 birds over the course of a few months in a move that took Kaestner and others by surprise

“Two people break 10,000 species, and on the same day? Can it be?” one incredulous birder posted in February.

Subsequent scrutiny of Mann’s claims and drama that ensued over their veracity shook the online birding community, which revolves around a small cadre of websites but has no centralized authority. The mad dash for who could log most birds called into question whether logs should be better moderated in a competition in which sightings are largely accepted in good faith.

“On the internet, you can post anything you want,” said Kaestner, who has generally declined to comment on the veracity of Mann’s listings. “The question is, when this is not hurtful or illegal, it’s just someone making a claim, who gets to say whether any particular claim is valid or not?”

Peter Kaestner talks about bird watching at Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti on 9 October 2015. Photograph: Senior Airman Peter Thompson/US air force via Alamy

Bird observation has come a long way since the ornithologist John James Audubon announced his goal to painstakingly document all the birds in North America through physical drawings, starting around 1820. With digital cameras, birds can now be captured in high-quality photos, and artificial intelligence technology can identify birds by their calls. While in the past, birders kept lists of “lifers” – the word for a new-to-you species – in paper notebooks, most hobbyists today use online platforms to track and share their sightings. Popular apps including iBird, iGoTerra and eBird allow hobbyists to see where rare birds have been found and try their luck at spotting them.

These platforms are now at the center of the controversy between the two birders.

‘Listing’ As A Sport – With Few Rules

There is a broad range of intensity in the practice of observing birds. Casual hobbyists are known as “bird watchers”, while seeking to log species in a more competitive manner is known as “birding”. Those who log large numbers of species and rare sightings call themselves “listers”. Those like Kaestner who seek to break world records are known as “big listers”.

Given the dire rate of decline and extinction in bird populations, it may seem counterintuitive that the 10,000-bird milestone was not achievable until now. But this can be largely attributed to changes in bird taxonomies in the last century, including over the course of Kaestner’s birding career.

“When I was in college, the very first book listing the birds of the world was compiled and published, and it had about 8,600 birds,” he said. “Seeing 10,000 birds was mathematically impossible.”

Taxonomies change when the understanding of birds evolve and “split” existing species into two species (or, less commonly, “lump” them into one). In 2023, for example, the northern goshawk species was split into two – the Eurasian goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) and American goshawk (Accipiter atricapillus) – after substantial differences were discovered in the birds’ genetics and vocalizations. The speed at which species are splitting appears to be accelerating as advances in genetics make it easier to measure the biochemical markers that delineate species.

The variability in recognized species represented a complicating factor in the quest to hit the 10,000-bird milestone. The popular platform eBird only uses the Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, while iGoTerra offers users both the Clements and International Ornithological Community’s (IOC) World Bird List taxonomies. The latter recognizes 189 more species of birds, making larger lists more attainable.

Kaestner uses both sites, but he reached his record using the IOC taxonomy, which he logged through iGoTerra. Because eBird data is used for science and conservation, sightings are moderated by volunteers around the world. If a user claims to have seen a rare species, or an unusual number of a species, a moderator may reach out for more information or request photos or audio recordings as proof.

iGoTerra, on the other hand, does not fact-check sightings. The platform allows logging of plants insects and other species in addition to birds. eBird’s focus on collecting and using large amounts of citizen science data makes moderation more consequential, whereas iGoTerra is more “geared towards the individual”, said Björn Anderson, iGoTerra’s vice-president.

“iGoTerra is more of a gentlemen’s agreement,” he said. “We provide the tools for you to keep track, but it’s up to you to determine what you have seen.”

That policy created a “very delicate situation” in the race towards 10,000 species, said Anderson. iGoTerra’s official policy was to stay out of the debate, relying on the transparency of its product to let those following the drama make their own decisions.

The Race To See 10,000 Birds

Kaestner, who lives in a suburb of Baltimore, has been watching birds as long as he can remember, he says, joining his older brother birding as early as age four. The career diplomat took advantage of his travels around the world to see as many species as possible, setting a record in 1986 for being the first person to observe an example of every bird family in the wild – a feat that was recognized by Guinness World Records. He built up a reputation in the birding community as he publicly shared many of his lists and photos.

In 2018, Kaestner realized he had surpassed 9,000 lifers and began pursuing the 10,000-bird milestone in earnest. His quest was highlighted in a May 2023 article in Outside magazine, as well as on his widely followed Facebook account. He explained his goal, how he planned to accomplish it, and his timeline – a move he now questions.

“I realize now that by publishing that, I may have been putting a target on my back,” he said. “Little did I know Jason Mann would be aiming for it.”

Mann, a little-known US birder living abroad, had recently appeared on the scene, posting occasionally on the bird forum Surfbirds.com. According to his LinkedIn profile, Mann is a medical doctor and healthcare investor based in Hong Kong. In October 2023, he published a list detailing more than 9,000 species he said he had seen over the course of his lifetime. The move surprised the birding world. Nobody, including Kaestner, had ever heard of him – a rare occurrence in a close-knit community in which the top players are well-recognized. Having been in the game for decades, Kaestner knew most of his high-level peers personally, on many occasions having taken birding trips with them in the spirit of friendly competition. Mann did not respond to multiple requests for comment on this story.

The entry of a dark horse into the race sent Kaestner scrambling. He quietly moved up a planned trip to Taiwan, where he hoped to see a handful of final species. Mann was adding nearly a dozen new species a day. The sprint was on – and on 9 February 2024, having rushed to the Philippines for another birding trip, Kaestner crossed the finish line with the sighting of an orange-tufted spiderhunter, a small bird with a long curved bill and a penchant for banana plants. Kaestner immediately posted the sighting to birding apps and Facebook, with photo proof. He thought he had won.

A small, white-breasted bird, with gray wings, a red eye, and a long curved bill longer than its head.This orange-tufted spiderhunter marked Peter Kaestner’s 10,000th bird, seen on 9 February 2024 during a trip to the Philippines. Photograph: Courtesy Peter Kaestner

Stunningly, Mann claimed to have seen his own 10,000th species in Colombia, a chestnut-bellied flowerpiercer, just hours before Kaestner on the same day. Mann’s achievement was later announced on the blog of a Colombian nature trip service in a post authored by Mann himself.

The shocking upset prompted online sleuths in the birding community to take a closer look at Mann’s list, where they found “several dozen extremely fishy species” that, besides Mann, “no one has claimed to have seen for decades”, according to one post on BirdForum, a community for birders with more than 100,000 visitors a month. The post had more than 400 comments discussing the validity of Mann’s sightings. Species Mann claimed to have seen included the Manipur bush quail and the new Caldonian nightjar, neither of which had been spotted since the 1930s.

“Either this guy is the luckiest birder alive, having rediscovered several lost species, or his list is not to be trusted,” one member auditing Mann’s list wrote.

For his part, Kaestner took Mann’s sightings in stride, congratulating him and stating he would focus on celebrating his own accomplishment. “I was not involved in disproving Jason, or criticizing him publicly,” he said. “I have no idea if he is legitimate, misguided or a complete fraud.”

After parts of his list were discredited, Mann ultimately posted on BirdForum and sent Kaestner an email conceding defeat. The Colombian blog where his accomplishment was first cited was taken down and an apology from the company was appended. Mann said that while he is comfortable with “>99% of the list” he uploaded, he “recognize[s] that in haste there were a few oversights”. Given the errors, he said: “I think it best to put my support behind Peter as the first birder to 10,000.”

“I don’t want there to be any question, and in my view he is extremely deserving,” Mann wrote. “I celebrate Peter and other world-class listers, and do not consider myself in competition with any of them.”

As the drama has died down, Kaestner is still traveling, and still birding. While competition and achieving birding records are thrilling, he said they are just a small part of what draws him to birding.

“Being recognized for having worked so long and so hard at something is a treat – you can’t deny it, but it’s not the reason I birdwatch,” he said. “I love to travel, I love the adventure of going to unusual places, I love observing bird behavior. I love teaching people about birds. Having my 15 minutes of fame is just a bonus for me.”

The Aftermath

Mann has taken his iGoTerra list private in the aftermath of the controversy. In a post to BirdForum identifying himself, he conceded that he “made some errors when inputting my sightings into iGoTerra” and explained that he is “new to the public side of big listing”. He stated that it had been a “massive effort” to collate all of his notes “after 37 years of birding almost everywhere”. The effort was complicated, he noted, by the varying taxonomies and the fact that SurfBirds.com became unstable in the midst of the race, forcing him to migrate to iGoTerra.

“To me it was a real privilege to have such a close, neck-and-neck race at the end,” he wrote. “My hope is that any associated publicity helps move birding forward, raising awareness for more people to enjoy and protect nature.”

With both birders’ lists on full display, Kaestner’s own logs came under scrutiny following the 10,000-bird achievement, ultimately leading him to remove three species. He said he had already removed the birds in question from his eBird listings but forgot to remove them from iGoTerra. One of those sightings was called into question more than three years after the fact, he said, when new research revealed it was impossible he could have seen that species in the location where it was logged. His final number of sightings still stood above 10,000.

“If I’ve made a mistake, very often it’s based on knowledge of the bird at the time,” he said. “Science is all about advancing knowledge, and as the knowledge of the bird changes, if I get evidence I made a mistake, I am more than willing to take a bird off my list.”

Anderson said iGoTerra does not plan to change the way it moderates the platform, but that the recent events have inspired more transparency and scrutiny of lists, which he said is a “very good thing”. He says public validation can be more important than that of an individual reviewer because there is more knowledge to pull from. At the end of the day, he added, the competition is meant to be friendly.

“Even if two top birders are neck and neck, I guarantee you they would help one another to get a new lifer, or even share a car on a trip to see a rare bird,” he said. “I think that is pretty unique, and it’s part of the beauty of this competition.”

Kaestner’s list, following his removal of three species that were questioned, now stands at 10,002 birds. He doesn’t have a new goal in mind and said for now he is focusing on bird conservation and leading educational trips. The response to the controversy affirmed for him why he is involved in birding to begin with: people he bumped into on bird-watching trips decades ago came to his defense.

“Some birders don’t understand that birding is a team sport,” he said. “Getting information from others, sharing information, developing relationships with people – you can’t be a complete lone wolf. It’s always been a team sport.”

[miblife]

The Wandering Of A Bird Outside Its Nest Chapter 13

Statement of Toby Sparks, regarding his descent into madness. Original statement transcribed 10th March, 2006, audio recording by Grian Watcher, Head Archivist of the V.O.I.D. Institute, London. Statement begins.

[motherofbulldogs]

Opinion | Heavy Lies the Crown - The New York Times

March 25, 2024

Heavy Lies the Crown

A diamond and gem encrusted crown, trimmed with ermine, is carried on a red velvet cushion.

Pool photo by Johnny Green

By Tina Brown

Ms. Brown is the author of “The Diana Chronicles” and “The Palace Papers.”

I was in London last week when the febrile madness of Where Is Kate? was blowing up social media, and the Curious Mystery of the Doctored Mother’s Day Photograph consumed every news outlet and dinner table conversation.

After The Associated Press issued a kill notification on the botched photoshopped image of a suspiciously glossy Princess of Wales surrounded by her beaming progeny, there was a typical outburst of tabloid pomposity questioning whether Kensington Palace could ever be considered a trusted source of news.

Huh? When was the last time any tabloid considered the palace a trusted source of news? As the editor of Vanity Fair in 1985, I wrote a piece revealing that Prince Charles and Princess Diana were having awful marital fights. The palace roundly denied it, and the royal couple denied it in a television interview, confirming in my mind — correctly, as it turned out — that it was all true.

But this time, the volume and tenor of the gossip was off the charts. In all the raucous, salacious and often cruel rumormongering about Catherine, almost no one considered that behind the scenes something tragic was unfolding. When social media shrieked that there would be a very somber press announcement on Friday, royal-watchers assumed it would be from King Charles, who is battling an unspecified cancer.

But then the bombshell: Catherine announced in a video message that she, too, had cancer. After which there has rightly been a wave of cosmic shame about what this gracious public servant has been made to endure.

Catherine’s explanation of her cancer diagnosis was composed and moving, her face strained but brave. Filmed on a bench against a glimpse of spring daffodils, here was an ill woman trying to cope with a shocking diagnosis and painful medical treatment while shielding her young, worried children from the vultures of modern media.

I am told the turmoil behind the scenes has been intense, resulting in what has felt like a series of baffling press screw-ups. We hear often of Prince Harry’s hatred of the press. If possible, Prince William — while concealing it better — hates the press even more. His bloody-minded determination to stick to his grandmother Queen Elizabeth’s script of “never complain, never explain” is magical thinking in the era of the social media maelstrom, creating a vacuum filled by rumor and deranged conspiracy theories.

The almost simultaneous news of Charles’s cancer has put William and Catherine in frightening proximity to ascending the throne just when they had hoped for a span of years to parent their children out of the public eye. The prospect of it, I am told, is causing them intense anxiety.

Help from other family members is scant, aside from the redoubtable Princess Anne, Charles’s sister, and the good-egg Gaiety Girl Queen Camilla. The slimmed-down monarchy that Charles always promoted is suddenly looking very lean indeed. The combination of the Harry and Meghan clown show in Montecito, Calif.; the fusillades from Harry’s memoir, “Spare”; and the disgrace of Prince Andrew — who has little social contact with anyone except his horse — have put William and Catherine under unmanageable pressure.

Catherine is the most popular member of the royal family after William. The future of the monarchy hangs by a thread, and that thread is her.

It may not be a popular thought, but in many ways I blame the predicament and weakness of the monarchy today on Queen Elizabeth. It’s possible that future generations will see her as the Ruth Bader Ginsburg of the British monarchy. She stayed too long, and by doing so, left behind a legacy that may be the opposite of what she wanted.

The time for Elizabeth II to step down was not long after her Diamond Jubilee in 2012, the year I have come to think of as peak London, when Britain dazzlingly hosted the Olympics. Elizabeth II had embarked on a triumphantly healing visit for the first time to the Republic of Ireland in 2011, Charles proved he was a settled married man at last to Camilla, Harry was a national hero after two military tours of Afghanistan, and William and Kate Middleton had recently tied the knot at Westminster Abbey in a blaze of national good will.

It would have been such a gift to her heirs if at that glorious moment Elizabeth II had stepped aside, as Margrethe II, the queen of Denmark, did in January 2024. After 52 years on the throne, she announced her abdication in her New Year’s address with the elegant explanation that “the time takes its toll.”

Instead, Elizabeth II stayed on some 10 years — to the end. Apparently to honor her oath to serve “my whole life, whether it be long or short,” but actually because she loved her job. She had seen how bored and marginalized the Queen Mother felt when, widowed young by George VI and deprived of power dinners with heads of state or the inside scoop from her husband’s tête-à-têtes with the prime minister, she was relegated to boring rounds of cutting ribbons in those huge feathery hats. No, Elizabeth II loved the world of politics and power as much as she did breeding horses and tramping the heather of her Balmoral estate.

But her 70-year reign has left a pileup of heirs infantilized by too little to do and trapped by a dusty structure that should have been reformed decades ago.

Charles, full of prescient ideas, inventive concepts of philanthropy and imaginative plans of how to modernize the monarchy, saw his hopes and dreams curdle as he waited and waited to put them into action. The beleaguered flexitarian was allowed to marry the woman he loved only when he was 56 years old. Even with the best prognosis for his cancer, he has been left with a rueful rump of a reign. His sad-sack motto was always “just my luck,” but that has never seemed more true than now.

And William, instead of taking over the Duchy of Cornwall estates in his early 30s and creating a space for the popular Harry to develop a strong portfolio of his own, ended up in a rivalrous relationship with his younger brother that exploded irretrievably when Meghan Markle entered the scene. A less hidebound palace might have come up with a more creative way to solve the Sussex imbroglio.

The fascination of the crown will always be the tension between a venerable institution and the human beings who are trapped inside it. Isn’t it just too cruel to expect modern mortals to live and love and parent in such a blisteringly unforgiving media gaze?

Catherine is battling more — much more — than cancer. A tidal wave of premature responsibility is crashing in her and William’s direction. Frozen, unready and with Catherine now seriously unwell, the Prince and Princess of Wales await the awesome burden of the crown.

More on the British royal family

Tina Brown is the author of “The Diana Chronicles” and “The Palace Papers.”

After The Associated Press issued a kill notification on the botched photoshopped image of a suspiciously glossy Princess of Wales surrounded by her beaming progeny, there was a typical outburst of tabloid pomposity questioning whether Kensington Palace could ever be considered a trusted source of news. Huh? When was the last time any tabloid considered the palace a trusted source of news? As the editor of Vanity Fair in 1985, I wrote a piece revealing that Prince Charles and Princess Diana were having awful marital fights. The palace roundly denied it, and the royal couple denied it in a television interview, confirming in my mind — correctly, as it turned out — that it was all true.

~ Tina Brown, "Heavy Lies the Crown"