#I guess it will depend on the midway point

[baconcolacan]

Why do i have a feeling that if Tom were to die in regimen Tord would just keep his corpse perfectly preserved in glass, or keep his skull on his desk to talk to?

OH LORD THATS AWFUL AND NOT ENTIRELY OUT OF THE REALM OF POSSIBILITY

Buuuut, like he said in the fic: “Now I may have some varied interests but I for one do not find corpses to be worthy bedmates.”

Its not fun either, Tom is best when he’s healthy and full of vigor, thats when he’s the most fun to be with. The threat of death IS a real thing though…..

Just don’t be surprised if he has failsafes for it.

[journey-to-the-attic]

hmm not sure how to feel about obey me running the same pop quiz concurrently in both games

there's a weird disconnect - the new ui and sfx of nightbringer did a good job of giving that disjointed feeling of being somewhere unfamiliar, but given that the pop quiz seems to be taking place in the present that mc came from, the nightbringer ui just feels.... off in the wrong way

given that i've got more resources there i'll probably keep using the original game to play the pop quizzes, but since you can get devil points for s ranking a rhythm stage in nightbringer, seems like these events will be a good place to farm some!

(though in the first place i'd rather they finish the nightbringer story before adding supplementary content like this)

[9cl]

Here are six+ songs that i've been loving and living daily trying my best not to let it seep into a permanent state of ennui. Some songs that make my heart move more than others or just otherwise songs that are extremely special to me emotionally. Thankyou for the tag @silic0n0asis <3💭 i might do more than six But i think thats allowed

1. Just posted lyrics to a song by this artist. Im linking it below. and it really makes me so sad and melancholic but also just makes me feel so excited. It's the right mix. I'll add another one i'm thinking of right after this one

2. This one is just plain wonderful. it brings back this intense wistful joy it smells like fresh laundy on a rainy day. An intense feeling of belonging. A love for the life that surrounded me. a really crazy headrush joy that reminds me of surfing Satellite tv for the first time in my life. Satellites and satellite dishes became extrenely important to me. Something about being able to escape and enter an unknown parallel world. Moving somewhere not knowing when it'll stop and not caring. At least visually during this era (2020) satellites were like a source of comfort for me, like being hooked up to a big wired world that i could manipulate through my little terminal

3. This song just feels like a lovesick midnight. In almost point black-blue darkness w/ visual snow clouding your entire surroundings. Just sitting there gleeful and enjoying the present. Something that nobody can take you out of during that moment

4. Well this song is just plain wistful to me. A lot of what the music i listen to depends on is the emotional and mental context during which i experienced it. sure music can suggest something to me but mainly it's the feelings i felt during that specific moment that resurface when i hear the music i hear. New things can be good as well as bad. The context can be shifted completely and reformatted and reframed. this one specifically i listened to a lot while running outside. It reminds me of feelings of inadequacy and futility. Nothing good but also nothing too bad. I love this song a lot though. Mark's vocals shine through here

5. Another song from around 2021. This is just perfection in a song. it makes me feel Freaking Cool... i love the dissonances when the keys go too far up around midway through the song. This whole album realy is just filled with song after song of just the most relaxing beautiful improvisational stuff ever listen to it you will not be let down. The opening track is also gorgeous

6. The only r stevie moore song i can really lidten to all the way through. i'm not a hater or anything it's just the only one that has fossilized itself into my consciousness. It's extremely meaningful to me. The chords are beautiful and so sweet. Stevie moore is the bomb... Incredible guitar work. i would love to learn it on the guitar when i get my new strings. Strongest memory from this song is riding around outside on my bike in the rainy thick foggy cloudy hot humid weather and falling multiple times and not really caring that much

7. This song is, i think, The Best Shit Brian Wilson Ever Came Up With, maybe toe to toe with I Just Wasn't Made For These Times, i dont really have much to say about this song the arrengements and the lyrics are beautiful. Brian's vocals are one of a kind and his falsetto is amazing here. The solemn piano part is just gorgeous. Surf's up hmm hmmm hm hmmm hm hmmmmm...

8. One of my most favorite Oli XL tracks ever:) #FREEOLI btw They need to get an album out ASAP

9. yyyyYYYEESSSSS OHHH MYYYY GOOOOOOODDDDDDDDDD!!!!!!!!!!!! Supersaw heaven

10. ! ! ! :):):) Like a rave in a coven i guess. felicita is fucking awesome. This version of coughing up pearls is beautiful

11. This whole album is some of the most great electronic shit to ever happen ever. not to cheat but im doing 2 here: these cuts specifically are a highlight for me although Romance Frog and Alcoholic are both amazing amazing tracks from this same thing. Gobby's hyperprocessed vocals are a huge inspiration. i fuck with the random Lifetime Discovery TLC samples all throughout

O.K. Thats it i nominate @thesentdowngirl @foodandfriends @kissyouallaway @bish0ps @dog5504 Your turn now if u want:-)

[officialbabayaga]

Homemade Cream of Mushroom Soup

this version is dairy-free but it would be very easy to adapt either to make it dairy-full or vegan depending on preference

Ingredients

Butter or preferred cooking oil

A package of mushrooms (about 8 oz.)(I like baby bellas), cut into slices (remember that mushrooms shrink a lot so don’t go crazy with the dicing. Don’t forget to rinse and get them as dry as possible before cutting up)

An onion, diced (go as small as you want)

A head of garlic, minced

Herbs & spices you like — I added pepper, rosemary, thyme, and a little cayenne

1/4 c. flour

Chicken stock, any other stock, or just some Better Than Bouillon in water (that’s what I used this time). I recommend microwaving it or using hot water to get it warm before it’s added. I don’t have a measurement for this, it’s a personal preference thing

Trader Joe’s vegan cream cheese (feel free to substitute with whatever your heart desires but this really is the best dairy-free option my roommate has found) (disclaimer i am not lactose intolerant but i try to work around the affliction)

Recipe

Sauté the onion until translucent in a large pot, then bring down to a medium-low heat and add the garlic. Add the herbs & spices to get them blooming a little bit. Keep cooking until they’ve reached the caramelization level you want or you get bored & impatient and are ready to move on.

Remove the onion mix and set aside, then without cleaning the pot put the mushrooms in and turn up the heat slightly, with more butter or oil as necessary. Don’t add too much though even if the mushrooms look kind of dry at first. They’ll release liquid as they cook.

This is a good time to prep your stock or better than bouillon and warm it up. It’s pretty much impossible to overcook mushrooms, but be sure to give them a stir every few minutes and don’t burn them.

Once the mushrooms have stopped looking as soupy as they will at the midway cooking point, add the onion stuff back in and incorporate. At this stage there should be quite a bit of accumulated butter or oil in the pot, but this aspect is the biggest guess of the dish since the butter proportion is semi important.

The reason it’s important is because Surprise we’re making a roux! Sprinkle a scant 1/4 cup of flour into the pot and stir until the flour-butter mixture has coated the veggies in a sort of batter/paste and keep stirring for a minute or so to ensure complete mixing. We’re not cooking the roux super long because its main function is just a thickening agent.

Add about a cup of the chicken stock first and mix to thin out the roux without leaving lumps. Add the rest of the stock and mix. Keep at just below or at a simmer and thicken the soup to the desired level. Watch out for the salt content because of the stock, you might have to add more water.

The vegan cream cheese I used doesn’t break down quite as easily as real cream cheese does, so i took some of the hot soup out and put it in a separate container, added the cream cheese to that and made sure there were no lumps before incorporating back into the pot.

Season to taste and you’ve got some soup!

[ominous-feychild]

✦ WIP Name Tag ✦

Following tag from @yourpenpaldee!

RULES:

Post the names of all the files in your WIP folder, regardless of how non-descriptive or ridiculous. Let people send you an ask with the title that most intrigues them, and then post a little snippet or tell them something about it!

Sooo there's a couple ways this can go, heh... most of my WIPs are sorted into channels and even further into threads within them in my own private Discord server, haha. So what I'll do is share the names of a couple of my threads and maybe what few Docs I have floating around!

Gene Scares The SHIT Out Of Oska

✦ thread from/about the Arcane Rifts ✦ I feel like the name is pretty self-evident. Tbh that's the case for most of my thread names, haha ✦ It covers events late in the first book. Mild spoilers. ✦ Gene is one of the MCs. Oska... is one the villains. ✦ Gene is 11 at the time.

Tazin's first interaction with Rieka; early khonitva

✦ thread from/about the Arcane Rifts ✦ It covers events midway through the first book. Very mild spoilers. ✦ Tazin is the other MC. Rieka is also one of the villains

The Faewildes

✦ thread from/about Literally Everything ✦ It covers an entire setting in the background of my stories and explains some worldbuilding.

Soren Magic Puppet Guardian

✦ thread from/about Sun and Shadow ✦ It covers events in the background of the story, and worldbuilding. ✦ Soren is Freya's (the MC and primary narrator's) dad. ✦ he's also strongly implied to have powerful magic within the story.

Lynsmouth's "Families"

✦ thread from/about Sun and Shadow ✦ It covers events in the background of the story, and worldbuilding. ✦ there's a reason "families" has quotes around it.

Chapter ? - Caspar and Nikolai discussion

✦ thread from/about the Arcane Rifts ✦ It covers events that happen during the story, with the characters loredumping and spoiling literally the first couple chapters. ✦ Aka you should totally just read them. They're good, I swear. ✦ Caspar is the mayor's assistant (aka technically the second most powerful person in town); Nikolai is the head of the police (aka technically the third most powerful person in town) ✦ Most chapters are listed, y'know, where they belong. Embarrassingly, I didn't decide where this one belongs yet. Hence... hence its title.

Trans Caspar

✦ thread from/about the Arcane Rifts ✦ you bet I'm queerbaiting y'all by sharing this title with you. 🤣 ✦ btw that's a joke. To my knowledge, I am not actually queerbaiting with him. He is trans and it's alluded to in the story if you know when and where to look.

I am not kidding about the title though.

The Pugabiytsy

✦ thread from/about the Arcane Rifts ✦ It covers events in the background of the story and worldbuilding. ✦ did I mention before that tAR/Glavnran is Slavic? ✦ bonus points to anyone who can recognize where the name "pugabiytsy" comes from. ✦ mildly spoilerific, but mostly through explaining/revealing the backgrounds of older characters.

Ponderosa

✦ thread from/about Sun and Shadow ✦ It covers a "background" character in the story. ✦ Three guesses at their name and the first two don't count. ✦ Ponderosa is one of Lynsmouth's (the city SaS takes place in) local gods. Most people are terrified of them because of their rapidly-changing moods and penchant for excessive "punishments"... especially because they're around all the time.

The Kavo Report

✦ thread from/about the Arcane Rifts ✦ who knows? Send an ask. ✦ minor-to-major spoilers depending on what you ask and how you define "spoiler". But I can and will filter out any that are too bad. 😂

Tagging (with no pressure) @darkandstormydolls @honeybewrites @the-letterbox-archives @themboty @fantasy-things-and-such and whoever else wants to join!

Divider from @cafekitsune

[mysteriouslybluepirate]

Thank you for offering your askbox. I've been thinking that Izzy being just a side character whose story wasn't main plot thread makes even better proof that not everything was well planned? If I was a writer and this would be easily the most discussed topic about the finale, I'd reflect on storytelling decisions I made. There's a good reason why Izzy's fate overshadows everything despite that he wasn't the point of the show.

(Post posted 10/31/23) Feel free to comment below if you agree or disagree, we're all here for discussions.

Thank you so much for this amazing question!! [If you're seeing this and want to discuss some aspect of S2, or my thoughts on OFMD overall, SEND ME AN ASK! I love doing this]

TLDR: Vague characterization from historical records means Jenkins is free to bend history without a lot of guilt. During early days of casting and during scene changes Jenkins got inspired by Con's audition tape. Con was told to play this shit as a Jesus/Judas relationship. An amazing performance in S1 keeps the character relevant in fandom spaces in the hiatus, and in Jenkin's mind for S2. The S1 season finale accidentally reveals a really interesting dynamic in Ed/Izzy's relationship. [Speculation from this point on] Jenkins feels like he needs to explore, with little plans to fully explore it. Fleshing out both Ed/Izzy abuse and love.

Jenkins realizes 'Oh shit, Izzy wasn't supposed to be this' midway through S2. But he still follows his original plan in killing him off, because he's not needed for the story in his outline, leading to him accidentally killing off a character as they're growing and healing. Leading to what some consider a move SO off-brand for the show, they are leaving the fandom.

[*Tin Foil Hat On*] I expect the original cut of S2 to include more scenes of the crew. I bet for every other Izzy scene, we got a crew scene. So when 'extra' not plot-relevant scenes had to get cut, they kept the Izzy scenes due to Izzy's stable arc, the fact that he'd die at the end either way and Con's amazing performance.

EXPLINATION AND DEPTH BELOW! It's a long one. A lot of this post will be speculation, interviews from Jenkins, and highly dependent on if you were in fandom between seasons 1 and 2. If you need me to hunt for sources, I can do that for you.

I'll separate everything into a chronological timeline as much as possible.

Before we touch on why Jenkins wrote Izzy to stick out in the story, we need to assume how he outlined this entire show.

Pre Con O'Neill:

I am of the personal belief that Jenkins likely wrote out an imagined arc for Ed and Stede. Including a lot of cool set pieces, fights, etc. for the three seasons he wanted vaguely based on the real lives of Stede Bonnet and Edward Teach(watch a YouTube vid documenting their history, it's a wild ride) turning it into something explicitly romantic. This is easy enough to do, as most of what we know about them was written YEARS after their deaths.

Next was filling in the cast. This is where we get our crew, mostly characters Jenkins made up, as very little is known of the men either sailed with.

Izzy Hands being a pirate under the age of 18 whose notable actions with Blackbeard include- Captaining his own vessel, running a ship aground, being Blackbeard's first mate, and getting shot by Blackbeard maybe on accident.

[THEORY] So. If you're any writer you see that and think 'cool a side character we know almost nothing about'. You slot him in as being Edward's one thing keeping him to the pirate lifestyle. Not necessarily romantic, but a serious Boss/underling relationship. This is a bit of how Izzy was written in S1 UNTIL-

Con O'Neill is cast as Izzy.

In interview, Jenkins has admitted that Con's audition tapes influenced how he wrote Izzy. As a writer, this shouldn't necessarily be ringing red flags. But he has gone on record as admitting to changing the script before shooting to suit Con. IN SEASON 1. My guess is Izzy at the end of episode 10 was meant to be more of a side character. Another Frenchie, or Wee John, who serves their purpose and then gets pushed to the side by the plot.

But at some point, Jenkins wrote how important the dynamic was between Ed and Izzy. Describing Izzy/Ed to Con before filming S1 of a 'Jesus and Judas' relationship like in Jesus Christ Superstar.

If you tell a (then closeted) queer actor who has been playing queer roles since the 1990s that his leather daddy character was having a Jesus&Judas JSC dynamic in a TV show that respects and celebrates queerness? 🤩 MY GOD.

[Speculation] That's how we get an Izzy Hands who is watching the man in front of him slip away, trying to dig his heels in. Hell, if I were Jenkins, I'd be adding a few more lines for Izzy to be pissed just to see Con have fun in the role. Let him be mad. Let him be in the background of scenes just glaring. Let us see a man slowly lose something he's built up his whole life.

[As mentioned from Comic Con- From Con O'Neill] This was important for me to bring up as Jenkins could have said 'henchman' but he didn't. Hell, when Taika and Con did hair and makeup they'd listen to the JCS cast album. It was a choice on both their parts.

[ovservation from here on out] Con plays it up, and a lot of queer fans saw this and grabbed hold of a man so desperate to keep the man he loved close that he sacrifices almost everything for it (Izzy also signs the Act of Grace to get Ed out of there).

Izzy, in a show full of openly queer people, is still on the fringe of society. SO MANY queers saw this and said 'OMG me'. ME INCLUDED. With a super supportive actor who genuinely is respectful of the fandom? Of art, and fic and meta? The Izzy 'Canyon' became so loyal because Con is a Queer Elder we didn't know we all needed in our lives!

Jenkins accidentally wrote into what could be an amazing story of a queer character living in a homophobic society where he learns to open himself up. All without ever writing a 'coming out' scene for Izzy. Jenkins knows this. Hell, since S1 Izzy fans have been telling him how cool that type of arc would be.

Now here comes the issue of where to take a side character, when you have loose plans for them.

S1 IS TIGHTLY WRITTEN ONTO ITSELF... S2?

Something we might forget now is HOW tightly written Izzy's falling out with Ed is tied into Stede and Ed falling in love. Beat per beat, Izzy is shoved away as Stede takes his place. That's really fucking smart. So smart, it was planned in the writer's room. The fact that some took it as romantic, that Ed could ever really love him back? Well...this is where Jenkins had a decision to make.

So he dips his toe. Let's make Ed even more violent than at the end of S1ep10. Let's include the bit where Blackbeard shoots Izzy Hands. Let's have Izzy confess his love for Ed and have it not be enough for Ed to change his mind. Let's show Izzy rising like a phoenix reborn after a failed suicide attempt where Izzy chooses to mutiny on Ed to protect the crew. Let's see Izzy growing. Because Jenkins loves Con's performance. Everyone in the cast enjoys him as a person. Let's give Izzy one last hurrah.

Jenkins knows this character meant a lot to Con. It's obvious in the way Jenkins recently confessed he told Con about Izzy's death midway through shooting. Sadly we likely will never be told when Con was told. But imagining Con filming the AMAZING character change of S2eps 1-2, then AFTER being told Izzy would die anyway? Oh. I wouldn't be alright. Not after all his fans had spent the last year telling him how much seeing a character like Izzy 'being accepted because they are worthy of love'.

This is the 1 thing that fucks me up. Not telling Con until midway through shooting, Versus his belief that writing Izzy's death was a fitting way to end his story. BOTH CAN'T BE TRUE. Right? If Jenkins felt the need to take con aside and go grab a meal to announce Izzy was dying but then market the ending as a 'Good Idea'. Then...What? If Con felt it fit the character, then he would have likely guessed Izzy would die. But that wasn't the vibe in the fandom at the time. It feels like a decision Jenkins made this season.

Because yes, some general audiences predicted that Izzy would die. But when your core fanbase for a character don't expect it, you didn't plan the death correctly. Fuck, I thought Izzy was trying to RECOVER this whole season. Not that Izzy was hiding how hard he was struggling. That's not a good sign when I've ALWAYS called Izzy as some brand of suicidal/depressed.

[Quote from Jenkins Entertainment Article: Oct 26 2023] 'What's the best journey we can give him(Izzy)? And what's the most interesting thing we can do with Con, who can do just about anything?'

That is not the quote of an author who has planned everything out. That's a writer who knows points A and E and is fighting to find everything in between.

The Fly in My Ointment

There's a point most writers know when a character or story slips out from under you. You didn't mean for this to happen. Hell, I write Scene by Scene outlines. My stories change. When Izzy Hands' growth arc became the most interesting part of S2, Jenkins had a choice.

How far was he willing to bend his idea to keep a character that wasn't 'essential'? Not that fucking far apparently. Because for some reason, Jenkin's labeled Izzy in his mind as 'Blackbeard' and tied Ed and Izzy's fates together. Ignoring how this season Izzy died to separate his old life with Ed from his new life with this crew.

Your question poses it perfectly- If I was a writer and this would be easily the most discussed topic about the finale, I'd reflect on storytelling decisions I made. There's a good reason why Izzy's fate overshadows everything despite that he wasn't the point of the show.

That's a trick they teach you in some writing podcasts. That in the end, you are telling one story. You can have twenty side characters and a romance arc, but in the end, you are telling one story. Each side character is going to show what happens when you fail or succeed at the central thesis.

What do we have in S1? What does Frenchie sing to set up where our story STARTS-

"A pirate’s life, [it’s] short but nice,” -“we won’t live long,”  AND “to death we go, a certain death we go.”

Our characters expect a short simple life of what most pirates EXPECT. In my mind, this story has ALWAYS been about survival. From the extravagance of Stede's ship, and a crew ready to throw him overboard, to the barebones Shark eats Shark type of survival described in Ed's own fleet. OFMD is about living in a world that doesn't want you there. About surviving and thriving. About these two men from different worlds coming together and forging a life of kindness for them and for their family.

Saying fuck you, I'm here, I'm still alive, and I'm going to THRIVE. I deserve kindness, happiness, love, and a fully lived life. I deserve to spend my short time on this Earth happy.

IN S2? The ONLY character that matches this thesis is Izzy. After scenes of Izzy struggling. Of finding himself. Of crawling up from his own personal hell, Izzy dies. He dies from a random bullet wound in the same spots that didn't kill Stede or Ed in the previous season. Breaking the one established rule for wounds in this universe that the left side is the safe side so that Izzy can die.

Even if Izzy spent this entire season wanting to die, he tried to live. For a few days after a breakup of over 20+ years of casual intimacy. Of a bond where Izzy was the murderer, the brawn. The dangerous right hand. Where Izzy dying meant not just his death, but likely that of Ed. Given the man's constant depressive moods, crews that didn't like him, and reoccurring suicidal tendencies. Ed didn't need Izzy Hands anymore. Ed had Stede now. He was ready to finally leave Izzy for good. What will Izzy Hands do now?

He gave up. He tried to move on. He listened after being told he was too rough, too loud, too mean. He tried. He tried to survive this new way of life surrounded by people who supported him. But he was tired. After so many years of putting up a mask, tearing it down was too much work. So he wanted to die. In the end. Izzy died in the arms of Edward surrounded by his family.

Buried on a plot of land Jenkins has already told us Stede and Ed will leave when things get boring. Left behind like the corpse of a pet the family has forgotten. Buried without his ring and cravat, items Izzy is only seen without when he's naked. Without the prosthetic gifted to him by a family that cared about him.

Izzy wasn't mourned for more than five seconds, before Stede and Ed were making jokes on his fresh grave, and then the episode moves on to a wedding.

RIP Izzy Hands- a man who loved more than he was ever loved in return.

Was this the right message? FUCK No. But for those of us who believed that theme of queer survival and community- We saw framing Izzy's death like this as a fucking betrayl.

Izzy Hands isn't buried with his most prized possessions- they're left out to be stolen or rot in the front yard. With only one man crying over his death and a silent funeral. He leaves this world without more than a 'he was intense'. Which...isn't great coming from the man Izzy loved for most of his life.

The reason why we're mad about Izzy isn't that it's Izzy. It's that when we boarded this flight we were given a set of rules to follow. It's a comedy about men falling in love on a boat that sometimes gets serious. That's it. To watch a character start to grow only to die for NO PLOT SPECIFIC REASON. Is insulting. If your death has no tie to the narrative (sacrifice or it comes with a revelation) it's a death just set up for shock. Izzy and Ed could have had that deathbed confession talk at the start of episode 7.

A REASON WHY I'M MAD BEYOND THAT SPECIFICALLY. [Very Personal Gripe]

A SALUTE TO CON O'NEILL -AGAIN!

I had the privilege of hyper-fixating on this show from the entirety of S1 ending to S2 beginning. During this time I explored the catalog of Con O'Neill's work on Tumblr under the tag 'Conography'. I watched this man play queer roles since the 1990s. Genderqueer/somewhere on the Trans spectrum, Gay, Bi. This man loves to play a queer story, even if it's sad. If it's tragic. He will breathe new life into their lungs and express their moments of Joy. Of love. Of community.

After the filming of S2 at a con, Con he felt comfortable publicly coming out due to the love and support he felt from our fandom. Do you know JUST how crazy that is? That Con KNEW Izzy was dead, yet he loved our fandom so much he let himself be vulnerable, and come out as queer? It's fucking INSANE to me, and shows just how much this show means to him.

He's not just Queer. He's a Queer fucking elder whose been protective of this entire community since S1. This 57-year-old man has proudly stood up in the name of Trans rights this entire time. Treating everyone, but especially Trans Izzy fans with so much fucking respect. Trans Izzy is a common headcanon partially because of how comfortable people feel knowing they won't get harassed because they interpret Izzy a certain way. That trans people feel at home seeing themselves as a misunderstood character with a chip on their shoulder.

I'm pissed for every in universe thing listed above AND NOW THIS. Because our Queer Elders are dead. There is a generation of Queer people we can never get back. They died from a mix of society pressuring these people into the closet or an early grave. Of disease running wild in communities unchecked. Of media ruining the careers of anyone who dared to come out. To see Con O'Neill So Fucking Happy and having it cut short because Jenkins thought Izzy was better dead than being an actual background character makes me see fucking red.

No. Jenkins probably didn't know Con was Queer when writing S2. But I'm assuming he still saw how happy Con was at Izzy fans before S2 was written which still makes it feel shitty.

Sure. Give Izzy all the amazing speeches about family and belonging and rip that right from his hands as soon as Izzy realizes it's something he might want for himself. Let's have Con O'Neill say all the prominent lines that are a blatant metaphor for why the Queer community needs to stick together.

Izzy's arc isn't just overshadowing the conversation because it was mismanaged and feels unplanned, it also just feels cruel to the central arc of this series. Add that to an actor who was so vocal about loving this community, it feels pointed to give him a tragic ending.

Jenkins doesn't need to consider why people hated this finale. Because there are SO MANY Ed/Stede fans who just don't care. They put Izzy in the box with every other side character and decided to put their effort into the protagonists and point and laugh when we suffer. Jenkins won't rethink anything because he can just say the 'Izzy community was passionate and are sad their favorite died'. Ignoring how this season made Stede into a shittier, less sympathetic captain and gave Ed an interesting arc only to give up before the finish line.

[robotstrategy]

Rediscover • Part 1 • 3 - Mathieu

Previous • Series Masterlist • Part 1 Masterlist • Next

Chapleau Cree Fox Lake Indian Reserve is about seven hours away from the summer camp in Muskoka, because of the direction Mathieu doesn’t join the others on the bus to the camp. He’s being transported alone in the back of the car of an absolutely chatty Sienna named Timothy. 

Mathieu ignores him; instead he watches the dashboard hula girl violently rock back and forth as Timothy traverses the rocky terrain. Timothy is halfway through talking to nobody when Mathieu asks him about the girl.

“What’s with the little lady?”

Timothy pauses. “Huh?”

Mathieu hangs his arms around the seat in front of him, placing his chin on its shoulder he points with his lips over to the figurine. “The little dancer on the dashboard.”

Timothy nods and smiles. “All the company vehicles have one. It’s to match the theme of the camp. Well, maybe not in July, we like to get a little festive like our friends down under.”

Mathieu nods, he sighs out of boredom before throwing himself back in his seat.

“So what’s going on with your family?” Timothy asks. 

“My Dad went with my sisters to a Powwow since it’s getting close to the end of the season. They usually all go just to cheer on my younger sister.”

“You mean your little sister?”

“No, they’re both older than me.”

“Oh, I’ve never been to a Powwow, are they fun?”

Mathieu blows air out from between his lips before answering. “I’d say so, I don’t dance like my sister does, I just watch.”

“I wonder if there are any vendors there.”

“There is, but don’t expect anything to be cheap. They know what their work is worth.”

Timothy laughs, then happily sighs. “I guess I’d understand their reasoning, personally I wished people would pay more for my work, though I suppose it’s up to the government how much I get paid.”

“Is it like a Federal Union?” Mathieu asks.

“Yeah, I suppose it is, though sometimes it depends on the quality of the product.”

Mathieu furrows his eyebrows, confused about what the quality of a product would have to do with a summer camp, much less how there would be a federal union running at something done providentially.

Midway through the several hours Timothy rolls into an ONroute and gets out of the car. The building is monstrous in size, its roof is high enough to house the semi-trucks that park around it. “I’m gonna get a bathroom break and some food, are you joining me?” Timothy asks him.

Mathieu nods, getting out of the car and taking the handle of the entrance door once Timothy passes into him. 

After going to the bathroom Mathieu gets in line with Timothy to get food. “What do you think you’ll get?” Timothy asks him. 

“I’m not sure yet it’s been a while since I’ve been to a Tim Hortons or anywhere really.”

“I’m guessing your parents would rather make home-cooked meals instead?” Tim laughs.

Mathieu shakes his head. “No, well yes, it’s just that everything around us is super expensive, sometimes even food is priced like it’s a novelty.”

“Ah, well you’ll be happy knowing you won’t break the bank here!”

Mathieu lets out a little ‘tch’ noise, “I hope not!”

Mathieu heads back to the car with jalapeño bread twists and what he’s pretty sure is a Coffee Crisp in slushie form. As they keep driving through forests Mathieu imagines a little stick figure running through the trees to keep up with them. Apparently, that’s a shared experience almost everyone has. It's strange how deep down everyone imagines the same thing despite never passing the idea to each other. 

As he doses off more the car becomes slower, and he’s jolted awake by rumble strips, he sees the car pass between two totem poles, they must be in the camp now. Timothy passes into a round parking lot in front of one of the main buildings.

Mathieu gets out of the car with his carry-ons and is greeted with two large hibiscus bush hedges wrapping around the path to the main building. Timothy nods at him before driving off the car to god-knows-where. Mathieu would be annoyed at his sudden abandonment if it weren't for the fact he was stuck in that car all day. He looks up at the building, it’s made up of an A-line roof with the entire front wall being a giant window. He assumes he’s supposed to head up the stairs into the building. He walks up the creaky steps, struggling to get his suitcase up the horribly built stairs. 

“Can I help you with that?” Mathieu looks over to where the voice comes from, and he’s horrified. There’s a muscular tall being a meter away from him with a mask displaying the word ‘HOSTILE’ where its face should be. 

He struggles to put another stair step in between both of them. “I’m, I’m fine.” He tells it.

“Are you sure?” It asks in a gruff woman’s voice, Mathieu looks down at it, putting another step in between them. He sees all the different body grafts and wonders if its voice is even its own. 

“Yes. I can carry my own things.” He uses a defensive tone with it.

“Is this about the mask? Because…” the figure suddenly slumps over. “Never mind, your opinion wouldn’t change either way.”

Mathieu can’t help but feel a little sympathetic towards the figure, even as he flees up the stairs with his hands full. Finally getting to the doors, he finds that the other counsellors have made a pile of luggage in the entryway, the only thing they probably took inside was their phones. Mathieu does the same and starts walking into the main room to meet the other counsellors.

He walks towards the other camp counsellors, he thinks all will be fine until he gets closer to the group and everyone starts staring at him. Feeling intimidated, he awkwardly laughs, letting out a little “hi” as he makes his way around them to the back of the room. He sits in the corner, shrouded by the counter screwed to the wall. Mathieu is ashamed that he’s like this, his older sisters would’ve stood high and mighty even if everyone was looking at them, he on the other hand can’t stand all the gazes. 

“You good?” 

Mathieu raises his head to look across the room, he’s met with a white mask with a light blue square on it looking back at him. The word over the square reads ‘MODIFIED’, kinda like how that other figure had the word ‘HOSTILE’ on their mask.

“I’m fine,” He responds. “You?”

The figure taps its mask. “Fine too, but this thing is a pain in the ass.”

“Why do you have to wear it?”

“I don’t know, I guess it’s some stupid government mumbo jumbo.” The figure groans as it gets up to come sit beside him. “I’m guessing you don’t really want to be seen either?”

Mathieu shakes his head slowly, letting out a soft “no.”

“Yeah, they kept asking me questions, so I just put myself in this corner. Everyone here seems to think I’ll be happy to answer all their questions because I’m Modified because I’m the best version of what comes back around. Well, screw it! I want to be left alone!”

“Yahē!” Mathieu exclaims. “I agree.”

The figure lifts a hand towards him, there’s some wrist wrap on it. “Come join the club… uh?”

Mathieu shakes his hand. “Mathieu. What’s with the wrist wrap?”

“Roland. I just twisted it, it’ll be fine.” He waves it off, his head suddenly jolts towards an umber girl coming towards them.

She looks at Mathieu. “Sorry, I just wanted to say that I liked your braids.”

He smiles and nods. “Thanks, my mom told me they’d last longer out here, I’ll still probably take them out at least two times.”

The girl nods, “Personally I can keep my dreads in for longer, though I don’t think the smell of a campfire would mix too well with them.” 

Mathieu laughs while Roland turns to the girl. “I don’t think we’ll be doing any campfires anyways, all of our food is supposed to come from a cafeteria… So have you come to join the ‘We don’t want to be bothered.’ Club?”

The girl shrugs, “Maybe, that boy over there kept trying to touch my hair.” She gestures to a menacing-looking teen with spiked hair. 

“Yeah, that guy screams ‘asshole’. He's started to look at me funny ever since I introduced myself to him.” 

The girl nods. “Judging by his head scars, he’s most likely got an unwind part in his brain, maybe he feels guilty.” 

Roland wraps his arms around himself. “No, it wasn’t like that, he kept trying to ask where I was unwound and where my body was stored, I didn’t answer him, not like I’d even know the answer to the second question.”

“Weird,” The girl holds her hand. “You guys can call me Gigi by the way.” 

“Mathieu.” He shakes her hand. 

“Roland.” He states, he doesn’t go in to shake her hand, rather, he stays wrapped up in himself. Mathieu wonders if what that boy said to him really cut into his psyche. 

“If you don’t mind me asking Roland,” Gigi asks him, trying to stare him in the eyes as much as she can through the mask. “How are you kept when you’re unwound?”

Roland looks down, it’s hard to read whether he’s thinking or been made uncomfortable by the question. “I don’t remember, I think a nurse told me it’s like a freezer aisle, and that every door has a different kid on display.” He tells them.

“How long were you like that?” Mathieu asks. 

“Two years I think, they never tell ya this, but there’s already too many kids going around to be used. Even then, the section I was put in made undesirable… but, whatever keeps me whole I guess.”

“What section were you put in?” Gigi prods.

“The exotic section.” He states plainly.

Mathieu cringes, he looks at Gigi. “Is there really an exotic section?”

Gigi shakes her head. “I've never seen one, then again, I’ve only ever been in one of those shops once in my life.”

“Why’d they put you in that section?” Mathieu asks. “No offence, but I don’t really see anything… about you… that would be…”

“My guess was that he had a horrible personality, he almost killed a kid when he was alive.”

“He?” Gigi questions. 

Roland nods. “I’m not supposed to consider him myself anymore, since I’m modified, I’m more like a bug-fixed clone of the original,” He pauses. “I don’t like thinking about it too much. Other than that, I can only assume they picked up on him and I being a second-generation immigrant.”

“Oh, where do your parents come from?” Gigi asks. 

“My mom is still from the U.S., but my dad comes from Spain.”

“Ah, right, you’re one of the people coming into Canada for this camp.”

“Uh-huh, how many of us are there? I already travelled with my friend to get here.”

“Well, I think there’s one more person from the U.S., then there’s two from France.”

“France? Wow, I would not have come here if I was all the way from France.” There was a tone of disbelief on Roland’s tongue, Mathieu almost certainly knew his eyes had gone wide open as well. 

[sheepkebby]

I hope you don’t mind my rambles, but I’m avoiding doing my homework, so I’m gonna analyze potential future plot of KVTW :3

So, in ch. 7, we find out that the survivors are at a military base is a desert somewhere. Since it’s a military base, we can guess they’re still in the US, so that narrows down where they could be.

For the sake of keeping this short since it’s pretty late for me, let’s say they’re in the Chihuahuan Desert. To be nice to Keith (and me), I’ll guess that the survivors’ military base is also in Texas, so I’m going to approximate them somewhere in far west Texas.

We know Virgil is taking Keith to Texas, but he didn’t say where. Some of the closest port towns to where they’re approaching from is Galveston and Houston, so for my measurements, I’m going to guess that’s where they land. If they don’t boat up any rivers, that leaves Keith somehow having to find his way from southeast Texas to west Texas.

Now lovelies, for some context Texas is pretty fuckin’ big. Let me put in a little perspective:

Here’s a great map I found detailing the survivors journey, and the blue line is our group. Through their campaigns, they travel from Savannah, Georgia to New Orleans, Louisiana. According to google maps, the straightest route from their start to finish is over 600 miles.

If Keith ends up in southeastern Texas and has to find his way to west Texas, to cross the whole state, his route is going to be ~600-800 miles, depending on his actual starting and end point. And that’s only if he takes the best path by roads. He doesn’t know Ellis is alive, so he doesn’t have a goal to even travel this far. A road trip through Texas could last days, and that’s if he finds a car, the roads aren’t blocked, and he has a motivation to head that way. This all also with the assumption that their base is even in Texas; it could always be further.

Keith has a long road ahead of him.

(I sleep now. Love KVTW sm!!!!)

MY JAW LITERALLY DROPPED WHEN I SAW THIS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OH MY GOODNESS I'M. I'M GOING TO DROP MY JACKET INTO A PUDDLE FOR YOU SO YOUR SHOES DON'T GET MUDDY.

I'm absolutely astonished, like, I never ever thought that people would get so invested in my writing. I dunno if it's weird of me to say but thank you so so much for this. Really you've made my whole night

You're right on the money with "Keith has a long road ahead of him." too! I planned on chapter 7 marking the midway point in the fic, which is half the reason why I decided to turn it into a comic. In my eyes, it was a big milestone. (That, and the jarring switch to Ellis' POV made it special). But yeah, like I said, we're practically halfway through! Poor Keith hopped on that boat praying he'd see his loved ones in a day or two, mm-mm! Oh baby boy, I'm so sorry.

You'll havta wait a little while longer, my beloved bumpkin.

As for you, stranger, sleep well :3 and thanks again !!!

[maya-matlin]

Please ignore if you've already been asked this but can you talk about why you love brucas even more than dair? i ship both too and get why most prefer dair but brucas just gives me even more feels, there's something so warm, sweet and touching about them. i can't explain it but know that you'll be able to!

I mean, it definitely depends on the person. I think Brucas is controversial for a lot of reasons. It's common knowledge that they weren't endgame. Knowing all along that their reunion is just another detour to the supposedly inevitable Lucas/Peyton endgame and seeing Julian just overall being a more loyal love interest, it's easy to think less of the Brooke/Lucas relationship. Some fans struggle a lot with fictional cheating. While I don't like it and hate seeing it affect my ships, I mostly view it as a trope that's going to occur whether I like it or not. In real life, you never know for sure if a cheater is remorseful or has changed. But in fiction, you can get into their heads and see the POV. Basically, this is why I was able to get on board with Brucas during seasons 2 and 3. It honestly seemed like Lucas regretted his actions and was working to be better both for himself and because it's what Brooke deserved.

But needless to say, I agree with all of your points. It's nothing against Dair. I think their relationship was great for what it was. They're still one of my all time favorite ships. But at the same time, I'm much more attached to One Tree Hill than I am to Gossip Girl. The characters in OTH feel much more real to me. Brooke and Lucas are no exception. It's the classic opposites attract pairing. He's very introspective and sees the world in a very single minded sort of way. She's the life of the party and has never been taken seriously by anyone. Except Peyton I guess, but season 1 was kind of inconsistent where their friendship was concerned. Both of them deeply desire love and weren't getting the support they needed from at least one parent. There's this great chemistry between them that's pretty undeniable. As much as I hate to say it considering how badly things played out between the two in real life, Chad and Sophia vibed as actors. Lucas never saw Brooke coming. For him, it was supposed to be Peyton and only Peyton, the girl he'd been obsessed with for years. For Brooke, Lucas was initially just a potential conquest that was playing hard to get. But once they started to bond and truly get to know one another, it was obvious they'd gotten each other all wrong and had qualities that drew the other in. With Lucas, Brooke became more serious and in turn started to see that she was more than just her party girl reputation. With Brooke, Lucas loosened up and started to embrace life rather than being so judgmental and staying on the sidelines. It was Lucas's betrayal of Brooke and subsequent sketchy behavior that shook him out of this idea that he was somehow morally superior to the people around him.

In season 2, we see their friendship deepen. Brooke and Lucas confide in each other, sharing secrets and giving emotional support. When Brooke has doubts about embracing more worldly, empathetic parts of herself, Lucas is there to reassure her that she has layers and is capable of being everything all at once. Lucas falls in love with Brooke in a very beautiful, pure sort of way. Lucas knows that because of their romantic past, there's no chance he'll ever get Brooke back. And yet, she still loves him. As much as Brooke tries to escape her feelings for Lucas and the idea of love in general, she can't seem to let him go. Season 3 is amazing and frustrating for them in equal measure. It's like, the potential is there. At their best, they're emotionally connected and having a great time together. Lucas is doing all he can to earn Brooke's trust and prove he's deserving of it as Brooke is trying to accept Lucas has indeed changed and won't break her heart again. Midway through the season, it's clear both Brooke and Lucas see each other as their romantic future. They almost get there! But, by this point real life drama has gotten in the way and the writers are headed back to Lucas/Peyton. So at the same time, there's this part of Lucas that is unavailable to Brooke because the writers are adamant Peyton be this person for him. But even after their second breakup and Lucas supposedly confirming all of Brooke's fears that he secretly wanted Peyton over her all along, it never feels right or true. It feels as though Lucas settled for something simpler. Even though Brooke is supposedly incompatible with Lucas, it's her who wants to return to Tree Hill once she's found her success and eventually settle down with a family. Peyton wants the opposite, yet it's like the show repeatedly punishes and degrades Peyton to the point where, unlike Brooke, she desires Lucas over everything - even self respect. With adult Brucas, everything is so natural. They're able to open up to each other and relate to each other now that high school is behind them. The whole Angie arc and Lucas's involvement in it is one big tease. Because it's like, things could have easily gone that way. Lucas even considers calling Brooke to elope with him in Vegas mere hours after he comforts her in that same damn airport. So, I don't know. I love Brucas because they make me feel so much. I love what they inspire in each other. I love them for their potential. I can't help but be emotionally attached to this unfinished love story.

TL;DR: Brucas was fucked over by the narrative in spite of having amazing chemistry and development, yet somehow that's exactly the reason I'm so invested in them.

[cogentranting]

It does feel weirdly like Din has no arc at the moment. He did in the first two episodes. But since then it's at the very least unclear what his arc is.

It's not that he's consistently out of focus-- apart from episode 3 he's consistently there and a major part of the plot (less so in 4). But at the moment Bo-Katan is definitely sitting in the protagonist seat. Interestingly, as of about the time that she became the rightful possessor of the Dark Saber according to Din: midway through episode 2.

It almost feels like the show has shifted away from Din to Bo-Katan as the main character. But I don't think that's truly what they're doing. To me that would be a really odd choice especially given that Din is popular enough that the let him hijack The Book of Boba Fett for two and half episodes.

I think it's more likely that this is more of a pause or a lull in Din's character arc. The plot line of restoring Mandalore is interesting; I like that. But it required Bo-Katan getting some major development for a while, and maybe even a permanent promotion to deuteragonist. Which is... OK. Probably. Depending on how long it lasts. I'd me more okay with it in a longer season. And I think certain episodes have done better with it than others (6 makes Din very much a part of what's going on and gives him significant character beats; 4 let's him fade into the background a bit too much imo). But where are we going?

If I had to guess, I'd say that what we're seeing right now is Din in a place where he has everything he wants. He has his son. He was restored to the creed. He has stronger membership in his covert than before. He even got rid of the Dark Saber he didn't want. And Din has to sit in that for a while before being brought to the realization that there is something more that he needs. And once that realization comes we'll be back into his arc full force.

My prediction is that will have something to do with the leadership of mandalore in one of three possible forms:

A. Din as kingmaker. Din will not lead Mandalore but will need to take on a key role in establishing Bo-Katan's rule. I have the hardest time picturing what this one would look like without relegating Din to deuteragonist but I think it COULD be done.

B. Din rising to be ruler of Mandalore. I think this would come from a perspective of, Din originally got the Dark Saber by accident and did not want it. Now he is free of it and has to come to the point where he reclaims it willingly. This might lead to Din opposing Bo-Katan or it might be a case where she realizes too that the role belongs to him.

C. Din and Bo-Katan as co-rulers of Mandalore. This might include Din retaking the Dark Saber, it might not, it might be some sort of... taking turns with the Dark Saber situation. It would be the idea that each have one side of what's needed to rule Mandalore. it would also build on the fact that both Din and Bo-Katan were present in the waters with the mythosaur, despite Din not seeing it.

In any of the three, I think Din's role in episode 6 was relevant-- that his awareness of ugnaught culture and ability to interact with them made him more capable in that situation than Bo-Katan and it caught her off guard. His backstory was also referenced in two different ways in this episode (the return of his antipathy toward droids, and Woves mentioning that he's not Mandalorian by blood) and that suggests to me that his past might become relevant in the upcoming episodes.

So, the lack of focus on Din has been a bit frustrating but i'm hopeful that it's leading to something interesting.

[scarefox]

me, with a little flue and migraine: best timing to give my rabbit a full body bath with the new rabbit soap I bought yesterday + blow-drying him forever because rabbit fur is a bish with it's underlayer 🤡

We did it. Had to throw in my last painkiller midway tho.

And now these two fur clowns finishing the rest. Drying the last bit of water out of the fur by licking him all over... don't question rabbit logic

(it's only the outer layer fur that's still damp no worry + it's warm in the room)

But I am glad Maya started to clean him again now that her own illness got better, she's more social and cuddly again.

*don't bath / wash rabbits if not needed it sucks for everyone cause it's a struggle (but looks cute not gonna lie). He can't clean himself anymore and the warm water helps to relax his muscles

-

idk I think at one point during the first weeks of him having spondylosis to this point he can't walk properly anymore, he stopped caring and takes whatever comes? Maybe it's rabbit instinct to just "give up resisting" at a certain point of illness, because in the wild he would have gotten eaten by now or starved (he is not in that mindset anymore now I guess, he got used to it all). He lets me hold him however as long as it doesn't hurt his back or lets me do anything now. So bathing him is not even that horror event for him as it would have been like 1 year ago. But he understands by now that I help him with the things I do. The blow-dryer is still scary / uncomfy for him. I generally let buns sit freely on a towel on the ground when i blowdry them. OR I hold them up my chest which is easier and more comfy for but means I get wet. And depends on the bun if they see you as some sort of save place (these buns will climb you at the vet too)

not pics from today but that's how we do every time

+ Bonus, him trying to do it himself (with my support cause he can't sit up alone) he hates being wet but he also hates being dirty and stinky so we have to keep up some hygiene :')

the wet fur and shaky legs make him look more miserable than what he actually is 😅

[fanbles]

My rewrite of "Velma"

I'd have it take place in a college setting—a smaller college where pretty much everyone knows each other (like a liberal arts branch of a larger university).

I don't think I'd have anyone personally affected by the mystery in question, at least, not as directly as the Velma's mom mystery. It'd give unequal weight to the investment of the characters and I don't want it to seem like one characters is forcing their friends to solve a mystery that would mainly benefit them. The "killing people and taking their brains" part still fits the new setting (I personally wouldn't want to write that, but I'm not really writing this with the intention to make it), so I'd keep that in. I'm not sure whether I'd have it at the start or save it towards the end of the first season. I guess I'd put it at the midway point, after we get to know the main characters and have the chance to get attached to the side character who ends up being the first victim. Idk how long I'd drag out the plot (depends on how many episodes are in the first season), but I'd want to show the characters trying to balance the mysteries with their education (unlike high school, college actually requires your attention), social lives, and mental health. (The mental health aspect should be taken more seriously; I don't really like how it's treated in Velma. It also would add some realism and some conflict for the characters.)

The heart of the show should be the bond between the gang. Even if they're strangers before the mystery begins, they should act like best friends by the time the show ends...and they should at least be able to tolerate each other while remaining respectful. You can have banter or petty arguments, but you shouldn't be wondering why the characters are friends.

Starting out with Shaggy/Norville because I had an idea for him first—people like to make Fred or Daphne popular (usually both), but I feel like Shaggy would be more popular in a college setting. The lighthearted, mellow goofball who is a huge foodie? People would gravitate towards him at parties. I'd keep the "popular snack streamer" thing, though I wouldn't make him repulsed by stoners enjoying his content. He seems too chill to be judgemental or hostile towards people. Because of his popularity, he knows details about potential victims and might have some useful contacts. He's also allowed to have Scooby-Doo in his dorm as an emotional support dog. Idk whether I'd have Scooby-Doo talk or not. It could be funny if Scooby-Doo spoke one sentence in front of Velma and never talked to anyone again. Shaggy follows along with the mysteries out of empathy for the victims, though this can occasionally cause him burnout.

Fred is Shaggy's autistic roommate. He's really into puzzles and contraptions—solving riddles, setting traps, picking locks...you name it, he's into it. I could see him really liking escape rooms, which makes him a useful asset when he and his friends are trapped for real. Solving a mystery is like solving a puzzle and his utility in these investigations led him to have a friend group he desperately needed in his life (since he tended to drive people away, he went through several roommates before being paired up with Shaggy as a last resort). This means he can be a little too eager and misses cues (like Shaggy's burnout), but he gets better about it as the series goes on.

Daphne is into history and vintage fashion. She can point out historical inaccuracies in the evidence, info dump about fabrics, etc. (I like to think she made Fred's ascot; he never takes it off because he likes the feel of the fabric and his friend made it for him!!!) Her interests led her into reading about true crime that happened long in the past. The injustices faced by the victims and the blatant corruption of the justice system made her want to go into solving mysteries as a vigilante. [Daphne's outspoken passion also lends itself to a fiery temper and she WILL fight anyone who isn't taking the crime seriously. Someone, usually Velma, has to calm her back down because the last thing they need is for her to provoke the wrong person.]

Last, but not least, is Velma. She's the most difficult one for me to figure out because I don't want to make her unrecognizable, but I want to do something new with her. If we're going with the "Velma has been the leader the whole time" angle, she's the one who is organized enough to gather evidence and keep everyone on track. I could see her walking in on the rest of the gang with evidence scattered all around the dorm and she immediately butts in because the disorganization drives her bonkers. She's the type of person who micromanages group projects and though she isn't too interested in mysteries at first, she loves going on investigations with friends who actually appreciate her leadership skills (which used to get written off as being "bossy"). Velma also drives the Mystery Machine because she's the most responsible driver out of all of them.

[Bonus character: I think Gigi would be a nice addition to the show—I'd make her a semi-popular witchy TikToker who isn't taken seriously until the gang discovers she actually has powers. It'd be really cool if Gigi keeps the TikTok front on purpose because she doesn't want anyone to know her powers are real, but she reveals her true abilities to the rest of the gang when she realizes her powers could be vital to solving mysteries. Gigi can speak to the dead, see bits and pieces of the past or future, and read into the true intentions of people. Allowing her to read minds could be fun, but might make her too OP. She's roommates with Daphne and Velma. (Ofc, you can exclude her or rewrite her if this is a little too detached from reality, but I couldn't help but present the idea anyway.) ]

[journey-to-the-attic]

Hi Kin. I wanted to ask, how did you manage things like writer's block or creative burnout while writing JTTA? I'm midway through a longfic now and it's kind of exhausting. I feel like I'm whining but I barely get any comments or asks or anything.

hi anon! honestly i'm not sure if i was the right person to ask this, because i... kind of didn't? as in, i didn't really have these problems - boring answer, i know!

i got lucky because i hit a sweet spot where the base story and characters were strong, but with just enough gaps in plot, worldbuilding, development, etc. such that the momentum of filling everything in carried me through the whole process. but there were definitely a lot of occasions where i sat there thinking "okay i have no idea what to do now"

in those cases, often i had to just step back and ruminate on it for a little while - i've pretty much constantly got little ideas bouncing around my head, and sometimes they hit each other like snowballs and form into more fully-fledged plot points, scenes, dialogue, so on. i try to keep track of these in notes apps, personal discord channels, etc, and dip into them if i'm stuck on something!

not sure if your fic is for obey me, but this could still apply even if not - with all the pop quizzes and devilgrams that put the characters in a bunch of new contexts, it's helpful seeing how that character's static vs dynamic traits persist/change depending on them, and often that'll give you inspiration as well. depending on what you've got available, you could browse through source material, or brainstorm aus, whichever you enjoy most

i'm really not sure HOW i've stuck with obey me for so long, but somehow it's just stuck with me. i don't remember being so invested in it before jtta, so that's probably why, but i just really love these guys, and i suppose that's why i never burnt out of it? i think it was also because i knew what story i wanted to tell, and i really wanted to make sure ik got her happy ending, and that carried me through as well

seriously, though - do take breaks. every writer's mileage varies, so take a step back whenever you need to. writing fics should be fun! sometimes it does feel like a chore, and it becomes more like 'the only thing i hate more than writing is not writing', but it happens to all of us. sometimes you've just got to rest until your second wind comes along

in terms of comments and such... yeah, it's a tough one! the unfortunate thing is that a vast majority of readers - even if they really enjoyed your writing! - won't leave a comment. don't take this as a direct reflection on your writing! often the reader can't think of what to say, is too shy, or quite simply forgot

again though... i'm not sure if i'm the best person to ask for advice here! i started publishing jtta without much expectation for an audience, given the genre of game it's written for, so any attention was more a nice surprise than anything. i suppose that, later on, when the fic was more well-established, i did start holding some expectation of response - and it really is tough when you don't get as much of one as you were hoping for

i've seen people talking about how the ask culture on tumblr has died down a lot in recent times, so i'm sure you're not the only one feeling like this! all i can suggest is trying to find more friends (mutuals?) and... networking, i guess? i've seen advice saying to share your fic within communities of writers, too

i can't honestly say if these things'll work, because i'm very bad about interacting with a wider fandom in anything - i usually keep to myself, so often i don't have much of an expectation for how and when people come chat. as in real life, i'm only a chatterbox when approached first haha

i'm not sure how helpful this has been, but i'm rooting for you! if you'd like to share your fic here, please do - though i understand if that's something you'd rather keep to yourself as well.

creating things is a joy - it might take some searching to find a circle, but the beauty of the internet is that you will, somewhere out there! wishing you the best ^^

[asknarashikari]

Yeah, I've been calling it that you'd be disillusioned with Geats, regarding how you vented about him midway. And I can feel guilty when I send asks about Geats (and I do read when you ask to not send questions about it). Am I directly responsible for this, like regarding me bringing up about something like Azuma's actions/traits being downplayed?

I guess it can be partly a change of pace I want to do to inform something of a "good news" too like the shitty Kurama parents not being considered as loving parents deep down (which'd be actual glorifying) but having to change for the better.

I know that many'd just suggest to give up, but I brought these out as I think someone gotta point out something like good intentions not making one a good person, to raise awareness, not for them but at least perhaps for third parties reading it, though perhaps sorry for this depending on the answer above.

I do perhaps have some copium for the fact that KR do also can have a villain (though not starting as one - like Kaito) getting justified by fandom - like many other medias like MCU, after the response to people like Ouja, Kusaka, Banno, Gai, etc. getting condemned universally, though for Geats too people universally condemn Daichi and Beroba's actions just like those mentioned, like usual.

Nah, it's cool. I was already pretty annoyed with how Azuma was being written, and it wasn't like I didn't see the fandom reception towards him with my own eyes. I made the mistake of dipping my toe back into Reddit too, so I was exposed to hot takes like "It's ok if [Azuma] kills the victims since they got revived" 💀

So you sending your thoughts in my direction didn't really play much of a role in my own opinions. That said, that applies even to the stuff that you said were positive about Geats- I still honestly think all of the redemption arcs were shoddily done, and that the parents belong in the group that didn't do anything to earn it (along with Daichi).

I thought about giving Geats up when the Dark Keiwa arc started up, but at the same time I have my own stubbornness about seeing the season through. I wish I did give it up in hindsight. I don't see why people like it so much.

[thedragonagelesbian]

SO my ideal version of dragon age: asunder would go something like this:

Rather than having Wynne reveal midway through that she was sent by the divine to create an opening for reforming the circle, have it be established from the beginning as the main driver of the novel’s plot.

I get why it’s played the way it is in the book, because none of the point of view characters have any reason to know this in advance, and Wynne has no reason to reveal it any earlier, but. For me personally, it is the single most interesting thing in the entire damn book.

It is the ONLY alternative to the war that’s been brewing for the last three years. The only thing that can prevent the inevitable and that is in and of itself doomed to failure.

It opens up a lot more opportunities for AGENCY, something the current book and its most favorite boys are sorely lacking. And it highlights the tension between individual agency working against and within systems of oppression that are unfathomably large and obstinate

Imagine the political machinations, the Orlesian court drama, the tragedy of it all as our main character comes to realize that there is no other way forward because the templars will never concede.

Move up the Seekers of Truth and the Templar Order breaking away from the Chantry. I actually like a lot of how Lambert is written (minus the Black Divine shit), and the fight between the templars and the first enchanters is one of my favorite parts of the whole book. But in keeping with wanting the plot to hinge around the tension between the Divine and the Order, I want their separation from the Chantry to happen earlier, rather than being solely a reaction to White Spire.

Also more templars than just Evangeline should break with the order.

No more Wynne society has progressed past the need for Wynne.

Our new protag is a spy/instigator within the Loyalist fraternity. Her true beliefs on the Circle are known only to a few (such as Leliana), and she and Adrian have a VERY homoerotic rivalry until protag’s deception is revealed. Adrian helps her see that the reforms she’s been secretly advocating and fighting for won’t actually change anything, and then they kiss about it.

I dunno how much of Cole/the ghost of White Spire plotline I’d keep either... I’m usually never one to turn down a Weird Magic B Plot, but I’m much more mixed on Mr. Mind-Reading Objective Arbitrator of Morality and Hating Adrian.

He also has the Rhys thing of his entry point into the plot being SO dependent on his interpersonal relationships (namely, his affection for rhys) that it precludes more expressly political or ideological engagements & investments

Which is fine as a character flaw (hi hello varric tethras lover here) but should be treated & explored as such

If BioWare is holding me at gunpoint, Rhys and Evangeline can still be there i guess but they’d be a couple at the start of the story with a lot more attention given to how they navigate that relationship secretly within the Circle

Some of the Pharamond plot can stay, but it definitely feels like Gaider took the carnage at Adamant as far as possible just to have some hope of lending credence to the templars’ existence.

It’s not that Pharamond’s experiments CAN’T have unwanted and deadly side effects, particularly given the nature of magic in this world, but like... fucking reign it in my guy.

Also someone shows him love and care and gives him a chance to recover because JFC his story is so dark and often outright cruel

I think other than that, the story beats would stay more or less the same.

A lot of these aren’t fixes for problems per se but ways to tailor the narrative to cater to me specifically, but... The main thing that drew me to reading Asunder in the first place WAS the political backdrop. I wanted to learn more about the balance of power in Thedas pre-Inquisition and what, if anything, people in power were doing about the Circles before the start of the war. There are glimmers throughout Asunder of a novel that is much more interested in the play of power and politics (and actually SAYING something about power and politics beyond ‘but sometimes ppl fighting to change things BAD’). As a protagonist, Rhys stymies the parts of the book that I found most interesting.

[servin-up-surveys]

survey #125

What is your favorite middle name for a girl? It totally depends on the first name. I don't have a set favorite.

Which insect annoys you the most? Gnats.

How many proms have you been to? Two.

Do you prefer hard rock music or soft rock? I like both, but I prefer hard rock, generally.

Did you ever own a Furby? Yes.

What is your favorite type of dance? Modern. It's a hard type to really describe if you've not done or seen a lot of it, but I think the best way to put it is it's a very story-telling, emotive sort of dancing.

What was your first concert? Alice Cooper. Stiiiiill the only one I've ever been to, I want to go to more so badly.

Have you ever dressed up as a fairy? I don't think so, but for years now I've totally wanted to do a fae-esque photoshoot 😭

What is the most significant health issue you have been dealing with lately? I guess being pre-diabetic. I have no idea how that's changed since my last tests, but it's absolutely affected how I'm living and what's basically a fear of eating like, anything.

What was the name of the first guy/girl you dated? Aaron.

What was the name of the first guy/girl you went out on a date with? Jason.

When was the last time you had a headache? I'm quite positive I actually had a migraine last night. I was basically immobilized in bed by ~6PM and stayed there for the rest of the night, sleeping but waking back up multiple times, and I noticed it didn't respond to the maximum dose of Ibuprofen I took (at least, judging by how quickly it NORMALLY works), only sleep after a good number of hours. I was miserable, and this morning I didn't even wake up 'til around 10 despite lying down super early.

Do you get migraines? They're not a regular thing for me, no, thank fucking goodness. But I've definitely experienced them.

Have you ever had to go to a neurologist? Ye.

How many people do you know who work as hairdressers? List their names. I don't want to reveal the one I've seen since basically being a kid because her name is just really unique, but I also know one my mom sees named Anita. My friend Summer is also good with hair, and Chelsea was (I say "was" because I have no idea what she's up to these days career-wise), too.

Have you ever filmed any TikToks? No.

Have you ever filmed a video for YouTube? DON'T REMIND ME OF THIS LASKDJFAL;KSJD;LKAWJELKR

If you could meet any one YouTuber, which YouTuber would you choose to meet? Would you believe me if my answer was Markiplier lmfao

Do you have any stomach issues? Yes, basically all the women in my family have gastrointestinal issues, oddly enough.

When was the last time you had pizza? It was a good few days ago when my late grandmother's husband was driving through and stayed the night here as a midway point. He's a New Yorker, so we got (really shitty haha) NY pizza. It was super uncomfortable, they weren't married long and we don't know him well at all, like he's not family to me, but it helped that Girt was actually staying that night too so I felt safer. ... I should mention this 90-something y/o man is not a threat to like, ANYBODY, it's super obvious, but still, I didn't like a man I barely know whatsoever sleeping in the adjacent room from me.

Which name do you like better: Felicity or Fiona? I like both, but I think Felicity.

Can you see a teddy bear from where you’re sitting right now? Yeah, the big one Girt got me for Valentine's, haha. It sits on this chair in the corner that's always in my sight when I sit here, along with the Squishmallow he got me and the plush dog his mom gifted me.

Is anything on your body sore right now? My legs, actually. I think it's because I walked a long way (including up a slope) yesterday during PT progress tests.

Does anyone in your family have diabetes? It runs super heavily in my family, so yes. Mom does, as well as her mega shitty brother, and I'm entirely positive there are others, too. I just don't remember them.

When was the last time you went on a date with someone? Many months ago, Girt and I really don't go out much.

… and what was the name of the person you went out with? Girt.

Does your hair have natural highlights in it? Yeah, slightly lighter browns.

What is one type of fruit that you’d like to try that you’ve never tried before? Dragonfruit. It looks so weird.

Have you ever lived alone? No, and I absolutely, positively never want to. It would be SO unhealthy for me.

Would you rather live alone or with someone? Someone, obviously. I'd be horrifically depressed living alone; I literally already struggle on bad mental health days when Mom isn't home just for most of a single day.

Who was the last person who came to visit you? Girt.

Do you have family that you wish you could see more? Yeah. I basically never see my extended family, ever. I don't even know most of them. My mom's family is primarily in NY and Dad's is in Ohio/Michigan, and only my parents, us three daughters, and Ashley's kids live here in NC. My brother's family is in Tennessee, but you have to keep in mind that NC and TN are very long states, with mountains to traverse between them, so it's not exactly easy or quick to get there.

What was your first job? Sales associate at GameStop. I was the worst salesperson imaginable, lmao. Did not last long, and yet it was the longest job I had anyway.

Have you ever gone to the emergency room having a severe allergic reaction? No, thank god.

Who was the last music artist you listened to a song by? oh you know,,,,,,,,,,, this band I'm REALLY normal about,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Have you driven anywhere today? Nah. It's been super gross out today anyway.

Where did you get your favorite pet from? My favorite pet of all-time? Teddy came from the friend of a family friend, whose dog had a massive litter of puppies and needed homes. Lolita knew my parents were looking for a puppy for the family.

Have you ever called animal control on anyone? No.

What are your plans for the coming weekend? I'm certain we'll go to Ashley's for Easter, watch the kids do their egg hunt. I know Mom has baskets for the kids, too.

Is there someone who would support you no matter what? I mean, I would HOPE nobody. I don't want my loved ones to be supportive of me like, committing a murder. I don't believe in unconditional loyalty.

Is there any actual chance you could be pregnant right now? No.

Do you still get carded when you try and buy things you’re old enough to? It's super rare I try to, but I haven't been carded for a drink at a restaurant for a few years now, I think.

What was the last movie you saw in theaters? My answer to this has been The Black Phone for... holy shit, I think nearly a year now. I can tell you I am ABSOLUTELY dragging Girt to see the Barbie movie when it comes out though lmfao

Do you think the drinking age in the US should be lowered to 18? No.

Do you know anyone fluent in a really uncommon language? Quite sure no.

Would you rather visit Iceland for a week or Rome for a day? Ohhhhhh don't ask me that!!! I'm a TOTAL sucker for Roman architecture, and there are so many places there I want to see, but I still think Iceland wins. A day is just too short and besides, in general, I find Iceland prettier.

What were you doing at this time yesterday? At the time I'm answering this question, fighting to sleep in bed to get away from that migraine.

Do you believe most people are good people deep down? Most? Yes.

Who was the last person to see you cry? Girt. Not because of something he did, I was just having some personal problems. He was wonderful about it and helped me out of it.

When was the last time you slept in a bed with someone else? A few nights ago when Girt was here.

When was the last time you slept in a bed not your own? A couple months ago or something like that when my mom was doing something with my bed. I slept in hers, and she used the couch pull-out one.

When was the last time you slept on something other than a bed? Months ago on Ashley's couch while babysitting with Mom. I try mega hard to avoid that, because by like, the next day I will be so sore.

Who do you look more like, your dad or your mom? I've heard both, depending on who you ask. I don't know who I look more like, personally.

How do you feel about the last person you shared a kiss with? I love him with all my heart and hope I get to for the rest of my life.

Have you gotten the COVID vaccine? I got the first two doses of Moderna, but not the boosters, even though I should.

Who in your family is or was a marine? I know I have now-deceased men in my family who were, but idr who they were...

What is one thing you wish you hadn’t seen? Certain things Sara has called me since I ended our friendship that had already been dead for months. A couple things she said about me are unfuckingforgivable by me, and even though I know in my core they're false as shit, haunt me anyway because I have a subzero amount of self-esteem.

What is one thing you find serene? Birdsong. I don't get those people that hate hearing birds in the morning.

What are three things you disliked about being a teen? The political and religious morals/values I held then are #1, and then I also DEFINITELY got hit hard with mental illness and its symptoms, and I hated my acne, too.

For support, on whom do you lean? The primary people are my mom, Girt, Mazzy, and Tez. Others do occasionally, but not nearly as regularly as those four people.

Which color do you like better: tangerine or aquamarine? Aquamarine, I actually really like that color.

What is your favorite foreign cuisine? I suppose Italian, although granted I really haven't tried much foreign food.

Do you like the smell of gasoline? No, it actually gives me a bad headache.

Do you prefer towel drying, blow drying, or natural drying your hair? It's a mix of towel-drying and letting it dry naturally.

Have you ever been sledding? Yeah. There was a hill by my old house where our neighbors, my sisters, and I would use for that purpose. I also vaguely remember sledding down a really big hill when we visited my dad's family in Ohio.

Have you ever flown a kite? Yes, I loved to as a kid.

What’s your favorite milkshake flavor? Eh, I suppose chocolate is what I generally go for. But it varies with my mood.

How long can you balance on one foot? I really don't think I can do that yet because of my legs. We're getting there.

Do you have any scars? Yeah, at the very base of my spine (look it's literally at the top of my asscrack lmfao) from a cyst removal; that's probably my worst one, but I can't see it, so. I also have one on my chin, from when I fainted onto the bathroom floor directly onto it. I might still have faint scars on my shins from how I used to scratch them entirely raw after shaving, but I haven't shaved my legs in so long that I don't know and can't really tell with how dark and thick my hair is.

What did you want to be when you grew up? They ranged from paleontologist, vet, author/poet/artist in general, movie director, game designer, wildlife biologist, I had a super brief guitarist stint at the start of high school and an even shorter (and I mean VERY short) music video editor goal, and then the one that's stuck with me is a photographer. I think that's all of them.

How often do you buy new clothes? Extremely, extremely rarely.

Can you solve sudoku puzzles? I know how to play, yeah. I used to like it quite a bit.

What’s the most unusual conversation you’ve ever had? Who knows, honestly.

Are you much of a gambler? No, that is behavior I never even want to try.

If your parents hated your current lover would you ditch him? My parents love him, but even if they didn't, no.

Do you prefer liquid soap or bar soap? Liquid, I hate bar soaps.

Who was the last person to knock at your door? Uh I think it was the guy yesterday who was doing something with our fire alarms and ceiling fans.

What’s the last thing you took a picture of? The azaleas growing beside our house. They're gorgeous.

Which is better: Mario or Sonic? Mario; I was never a Sonic fan. I'm not big into Mario either, though.