#CACKLE

[gomzdrawfr]

YEAH YEET

[geek-22]

[gutterandthestars]

[thatsonemorbidcorvid]

“For example, she wonders whether “fetishism is a reaction to the anxiety of living in a capitalist world”. “Perhaps to have a fetish is … a way of calming the noise of the world by knowing exactly what kind of object does it for you,” she says. Maxing out your credit card on wet-look bodystockings might look like shopping but real sophisticates know it’s an act of resistance to consumer culture. Yeah, right.

The pretentiousness reaches a zenith in a chapter on “monsters”, which deals with attraction to animal personas. “Imagine being strapped into a dog mask and looking up at someone from the floor … being touched and f***ed by endless limbs. Imagine surrendering to the desires of others,” she writes. “These feel like the perfect sites for …”

For what? If you thought the end of that sentence was going to be “having an orgasm”, no points to you. Instead, Fedorova thinks that these are “the perfect sites for questions inspired by post-structuralist philosophy”. Even if you agree that reading Judith Butler is strictly for masochists, this feels like a bit of a stretch.”

In Second Skin by Anastasiia Fedorova and in Love Expanded by Wren Burke the authors make a political case for their very different sexual identities. But it’s all rather pretentious and infantile

In the 20th century gay rights protesters had the slogan “good as you”. It was a rejection of prejudice and an insistence on dignity in the face of others’ disgust. The movement was a success. Such a success, in fact, that some straight people decided they wanted in.

Hence the ever-expanding label of “queer”, which was once a slur and is now embraced by anyone even marginally outside the sexual mainstream. In the era of identity, “straight” and even worse “vanilla” are tantamount to terms of abuse: basic, boring and definitely not aspirational.

And so the authors of both these books identify as queer despite it being hard to imagine two people with less sexual common ground between them. Anastasiia Fedorova is a fetishist. In Second Skin she writes about the pleasure of being “transformed” by latex, about the “sexual charge” of car parks and about the blissful disinhibition she experiences when wearing a dog mask in a fetish club.

In contrast to this torrent of filth, Wren Burke’s defining characteristic is a total uninterest in sex. Burke identifies as asexual (ace), aromantic (aro) and nonbinary to boot. That means Burke feels neither sexual nor romantic attraction to other people. Love Expanded is an attempt to define the asexual or aromantic spectrum (aspec) community as a political bloc.

Reading these very different books, though, the same question occurred to me: how is this my business? The writers appear to be under the impression their particular mode of sexuality is fascinating in and of itself. But other people’s sex lives are, in general, about as interesting as other people’s dreams. Unless you’re sleeping with them, why would you care?

Fedorova, who works as a curator as well as being a writer, gamely attempts to make a case for the significance of her subject. Her focus, she writes, is on “the way in which fetish can be a tool for transformation, expanding the boundaries of the self, as well as the way fetish transgresses the boundary of the erotic, spilling into day-to-day life”.

What this amounts to is the insistence that fetishes are inherently politically radical and valuable on that basis (rather than because they do anything as drab as help their practitioners to get off). This leads Fedorova to make some statements that are frankly perverse — in the logically incoherent sense, rather than in the fun, horny sense.

For example, she wonders whether “fetishism is a reaction to the anxiety of living in a capitalist world”. “Perhaps to have a fetish is … a way of calming the noise of the world by knowing exactly what kind of object does it for you,” she says. Maxing out your credit card on wet-look bodystockings might look like shopping but real sophisticates know it’s an act of resistance to consumer culture. Yeah, right.

The pretentiousness reaches a zenith in a chapter on “monsters”, which deals with attraction to animal personas. “Imagine being strapped into a dog mask and looking up at someone from the floor … being touched and f***ed by endless limbs. Imagine surrendering to the desires of others,” she writes. “These feel like the perfect sites for …”

For what? If you thought the end of that sentence was going to be “having an orgasm”, no points to you. Instead, Fedorova thinks that these are “the perfect sites for questions inspired by post-structuralist philosophy”. Even if you agree that reading Judith Butler is strictly for masochists, this feels like a bit of a stretch.

Running through Second Skin is the insistence that the author’s sex life gives her access to enlightenment that could never be experienced in the missionary position: that she is, in fact, better than you. The infuriating assumption here is that everyone else is living in a state of unreflective conformity, while Fedorova enjoys the insights afforded by having a recherché identity.

The same goes for Burke in Love Expanded. “Aroace [aromantic asexual] people,” Burke writes, “are no more uniquely predisposed towards loneliness than anyone else. But we are more disposed to opening up our concepts of family and love.” Similarly, Burke writes that as a nonbinary person, “I gained a deeper understanding and valuing of womanhood after I stepped outside its bonds”. In other words, Burke knows something the boring straights could never.

Burke’s desire to feel special is almost laughably transparent. That’s especially so in an account of Burke’s coming out as aroace as a teenager: Burke’s parents and brother are bathetically nonplussed, making the understandable (but, according to Burke, gravely offensive) suggestions that asexuality might not be a permanent state or a fixed identity.

Yet asexuality and aromanticism are so vaguely defined it’s hard to say what they mean. Aromantics, Burke writes, are capable of forming intimate relationships and “plenty of aces are sexually active”. As I read this book, I started to form the unworthy suspicion that the aroace label is really just a way to put other people permanently in the wrong.

If an asexual is in a relationship with an “allosexual” person (someone with a regular libido), then it’s the asexual who is seen as the victim. Burke writes of one such case (inevitably, nonbinary) that “they tried to fit their behaviour and even their internal identity to their allo partner’s needs because the price of not doing so was guilt, friction and, ultimately, the loss of their partner”.

This is infantile. Everyone, whatever their level of libido, is entitled to honesty from their partner. A person who isn’t interested in having sex should have the decency to announce it early on — and if their partner decides to break up with them that is not oppression: it’s a sensible decision in the interests of both parties’ happiness.

Burke ends the book with a call for the aspec community to be legally recognised within the Equality Act — not because there are any ways in which asexual people are deprived of rights but because, quoting a Stonewall report on asexuality, doing do “would act as a catalyst toward ace inclusion in the workplace by legitimising ace identities as real and worthy of protection”.

It is not the law’s job to legitimise identities. Burke surely doesn’t intend this, but writing about asexuals and aromantics as a specific community creates the unfortunate implication that everyone else is relentlessly up for it. It’s an individualist answer to a societal problem: being officially asexual acts as a get-out from the unpleasant demands of “raunch culture”.

Weirdly, Fedorova’s fetish seems to have the same protective function. The thrill of latex, she writes, is that it’s “a non-porous surface, so it keeps all the moisture and fluids on one side and everything in the surrounding environment on the other”. Effectively, she’s putting on a full-body condom. Latex sex as she describes it sounds like anti-intercourse.

Burke and Fedorova credit the internet with their sexual self-discovery (Burke’s via a meme and Fedorova’s via porn). What these books made me think is that the internet has been the enemy of sex. It has replaced desire with identity, and intimacy with the cold glow of a screen. Maybe we need a new sexual rights movement for the 21st century: one that argues for the right of sex to be fun again.

[wanderingpetunia]

WWWO Ep #49: At this rate, I'm just going to cry my way through the last 5 episodes of this book. I really hope we make it to the history dump from Steel, if only so we get more time with Steel.

Slight spoilers in TAGS!

[oliveoomph]

*gleeful cackle*

Agatha All Along - s01e05 - Darkest Hour / Wake Thy Power Aubrey Plaza as Rio Vidal

[nataliekalen]

mark being a little bitch to cobel is so funny. "ohhh we're Allies now ? we're not Neighbors anymore?"

[itsmariejanel]

is this how it happens? is this how you make friends as an adult? you stumble upon someone wonderful, and all of a sudden, you’re close? - cakle, rachel harrison

[gifs-of-puppets]

The Frog Prince (1971)

[froginamoodboard]

Cackle x Queen Blossom moodboard

Requested by: @anthonn-gremminger-apologist

x x x x x x x x x

[trashyswitch]

Day 16: Cackle

Remus has been annoying the hell of every side, and Logan wants to put a stop to it. But to his surprise, Remus manages to turn his argument around in such a way, that Logan is left cackling instead!

Needed to add some Remus moments in this Tickletober, cause why not? Hope you all enjoy!

Remus had been causing a lot of havoc today. He’d been bothering Thomas, he’d been annoying Roman (like usual), and now he’s even beginning to annoy Logan. And let’s just say, it takes A LOT to annoy Logan. And so, Logan has decided to set the record gay…

Because as everyone knows…Logan, nor Remus, are straight. 

Logan walked up to Remus right as he was getting ready to launch a big balloon into the air. “Remus, we need to discuss something.”

Remus looked at Logan with a smirk before letting go of the balloon, sending it flying. 

“Remus-” Logan caught the balloon with two fingers, stopping the balloon right in its tracks without even looking. “That’s enough tomfoolery.” Logan ordered. 

“Tomfoolery?!” Remus reacted. “What are you, 96?!” He reacted. 

Logan raised an eyebrow. “No, I’m 35 years old. You are too, as a matter of fact.” Logan replied. 

Remus rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. “Alright, four eyes. What’s twisting your nipples?” Remus asked. 

Logan sighed. “More like ‘who’.” Logan replied. “And the answer is you. You’re being quite annoying.” He told him. 

“When am I not?” Remus asked him. 

“Let me rephrase that: You’re being more annoying than usual.” Logan replied. 

“Aww…poor muffin can’t handle a little fun in your life~” He teased. “Gotta hate when the fun police gets involved…” 

“Remus…” Logan sighed. “All I’m asking is that you keep it to a minimum.” He responded. 

Remus bursted out laughing at that. “Keep it to a minimum…That’s a laugh and a half…” He muttered. 

“Okay…” Logan sighed and scratched the back of his head. “Maybe I’m asking too much from you.”

“Boy are you ever…” He muttered. 

“The least you can do is explain why you’re doing it.” Logan explained. 

Remus guffawed. “Seriously?! Don’t you know I never have a reason?” Remus teased. 

“You could just admit that you’re bored and looking for something to do.” Logan replied. 

“Please…that’d be too nice of me.” Remus mumbled next. 

“You want something to do? I can think of a few things.” Logan told him. 

“As if you’d have good ideas for me…” Remus muttered in a sassy tone. 

“You could help me get rid of the spider in the bathroom.” Logan told him. 

“Hell no! I’m bold, not brave!” Remus reacted, pulling out an eyeliner pen and a green mirror. 

“You could help me collect the recycling.” Logan offered. 

“Can I call you cardboard? Cause the BOREDOM IS REAL!” Remus reacted. 

Logan rolled his eyes. “Well, then I don’t know what to tell you.” Logan told him. 

“I wanna do something FUN!” Remus told him. “Something evil! Something to get you out of your shell!” Remus told him. 

“I will assure you, I do not need to ‘get out of my shell’.” Logan told him. 

Remus sank out of frame, and rose up behind him. “Peek a boo!” He declared. 

“Remus, no.” Logan ordered. 

Remus drew a finger up and down his arm. “You’re always so serious…” Remus muttered, poking his side. “Laugh for once, Logey!” He yelled. 

“Now why would I need to laugh?” Logan asked him. 

Remus smirked and grabbed Logan’s glasses. “Let me borrow these for a sec…” He put them onto his face like a librarian, and pulled out a book. “Laughter can have many short-term and long-term effects. It stimulates your lungs and heart, it lowers stress, and it even relieves pain!” Remus reacted, putting the glasses back onto his face. “So HA!” 

Logan rolled his eyes as he adjusted his glasses. “I don’t need to- laHAHAUGH-?!” Logan jumped and covered his mouth as he felt tickles against his side. “Remus NO!” Logan ordered. 

“Awww! Listen to that little laugh!” Remus reacted as he tickled his other side. 

“Remus don’t you dahahAHAHARE!” Logan shouted at him, trying to turn himself around. 

“But it’s so cute!” Remus reacted as he fluttered his fingers against his neck. 

“Nohoho!” Logan squeaked and raised his shoulders up. “Ihihit’s nohot cuhuhute!” Logan yelled. 

“But it IS!” The moment one side of his neck was covered, Remus went for the other side. “Kitchy kitchy koo~” 

Logan wheezed and let out a long, bubbly cackle. “No-dohohon’t!” Logan giggled. 

“Oh my gosh, your laugh!” Remus reacted. 

“Remuhuhus!” Logan reacted, his voice going unusually high-pitched. 

“It’s so cute, I’m gonna throw up!” He reacted, laughing a bit. “Someone get Roman in here, cause this is adorable!” He mentioned. 

“STAHAHAP IHIHIT!” Logan raised his voice as he ran away from the duke. Remus watched Logan with a giggle as “Yohou’re so infuriating!” Logan yelled. 

“Oh come on…” Remus smirked. “What’s wrong with a little tickling?” He asked. 

Logan tried to run further, but was stopped in his tracks by Remus’s rising body. “GAH!” 

“Surprise~!” Remus wiggled his fingers. “Come to papa, little lee~” He teased.

Logan tried to get away, but was stopped by a pair of hands wrapping around his middle. “Ohno-” Logan gasped and reached his arm out when he saw someone walking by. “HELP!” Logan shouted. 

The person turned to the source of the call. “Logan?” The person reacted. “Who goes there?!” Roman yelled, pulling out his sword. 

Remus revealed himself from behind Logan. “Well hello there, Roman~!” Remus giggled. “Worry not. I was just getting little Lo-Lo here, to laugh a little.” He explained a little too casually. 

Roman tilted his head. “...What?” 

“Roman, please!” Logan asked him. “I-I did nothing wrong!” 

Remus giggled. “Well that’s not exactly true…” Remus mentioned. “I’m just trying to make you giggle a little!” 

Roman moved closer with a worried look on his face. “Remus…What did you do?” 

“Oh nothing…Just a little tickling!” Remus tickled his neck to prove it. 

Logan squeaked and tried to stop his fingers. “eEEEHEEHEE- REHEMUS NO!” Logan shouted. 

Roman dropped his jaw. “Oh my god- He’s ticklish?!”  

Remus squealed excitedly. “YES!” He reacted. Remus fluttered one finger against Logan’s chin, earning him a squeak. “Tell me brother: When was the last time you heard Logan laugh?” He asked. “Like, genuinely laughed.” 

Roman chuckled. “I’ve never heard him laugh even once.” Roman told him. 

“Never?!” Remus clarified. 

“Pretty much.” Roman replied. 

“Perfect!” Remus declared before holding up Logan’s chin. “Why don’t you help me get some sweet, sweet cackles out of Logey-bear?” Remus asked him. 

Roman smirked slightly, and nodded his head as he put his knife into his belt. “Sure!” Roman rubbed his hands together as he figured out where to tickle. “Let’s see…” He muttered. 

“Roman…” Logan warned. “This isn’t what I meant by ‘help’!” He protested. 

“Oh I know…” Roman cracked his knuckles and wiggled his fingers. “But this is just more fun!” He explained right before dragging a finger up his belly to his ribs. “Besides…” Roman scratched his finger on the bottom front ribs. “I’d like to be one of the first to hear you cackle.” Roman told him rather happily. 

Logan grunted and squeezed his one eye shut, trying to hold his laughter in. “N-No!” He muttered, showing immense determination. “I…Won’t…Let you…” 

Roman tilted his head. “Oh?” He giggled. “Won’t let me what?” He asked. 

“Won’t…l-let you…Hear me-” Logan gasped and let out a surprisingly long squeal! “eeeeEEEEEEK! NOT THE NECK, NOHOT MY NEHEHECK!” Logan shouted, desperately shaking his head. “YOHOHOHOU AHAHAHASS!” He shouted. 

“Whoa, was that a swear word?!” Roman asked. 

“Looks like he can cackle AND swear!” Remus exclaimed. 

“PLEHEHEHEASE!” Logan pleaded. “IHIHI CAHAHAN’T!” Logan let out a snort. “HAHAHAHA- LEHEHEHET MEEEEE GOHOHO!” Logan yelled at them. 

“Awww, poor Logan!” Remus reacted, moving his fingers to the back of his neck. 

“So tickle-tickle-ticklish,” Roman tweaked his belly, earning a giggle from Logan. “-And nowhere to run~” 

Remus laughed. “Oh, he did try to run once…” Remus gently held up his chin. “But that didn’t work out well for ya, now did it?” Remus teased, looking right at him. 

Logan pulled his chin away with another snort. “IHIHIHI- *snort* IHIHI’LL GEHEHET YOU BOTH FOHOHOR THIHIHIHIS!” Logan yelled through his cackles. 

“Welp…Might as well make the most of it!” Roman declared.  “That’s the spirit!” Remus cheered. 

As much as the boys knew they might die for this, they were still more than happy to make him laugh. And unfortunately for Logan, it turns out it’s not just the creative twins that are blackmailing him…

Somewhere, just around the corner…was a man with an iPhone camera and a death wish…

[violoncelle121]

Stria Doing a Pose - Redraw 🧡🔥

Decided to use that one trending pose Charlie made from that Hazbin Hotel/Helluva Boss announcement. The redraw belongs to me.

🧡🔥🧡🔥

Kingdom of Fantasy, Geronimo Stilton @ Elisabetta Dami

[forthegothicheroine]

I finished Cackle, and it was fun, but it feels absolutely bizarre that what's between Annie and Sophie isn't romantic. Every single beat feels romantic. The big jealous clingy fight feels romantic. I know you can feel all these things in friendship, but every step of the book feels like it's supposed to be a romance. I would have accepted if it was a thing where one of them wanted to kiss but the other was disappointingly straight, or they sort of wonder if this could become anything, but it just felt like a big weird presence in the room- the romance that was supposed to be there.

[scholarofgloom]

[victusinveritas]

[tapwaterenthusiast]