Thinkin real hard about the role of propaganda in Psychonauts 2. I’ve already rambled about how it probably impacted Gristol Malik’s actions, but that’s not the only example.
While Lucrecia’s most extreme actions were blamed on the Maligula persona taking over, it’s still implied that she was oppressing Grulovia well before the Dam Disaster. Throughout the mailroom level we see letters and threats (although these are possibly imagined by ford) pushing her towards increasingly questionable actions. So basically I think Theodore Malik’s skill at propaganda created both of PN2′s main villains.
Another thing that hit me like a brick a while back: Raz (and by extension probably most Psychonauts) has also been influenced by propaganda. The majority of depictions of the Psychic Six/Seven--like the portraits in the Motherlobe, and True Psychic Tales--erase Lucrecia’s entire existence. Sure, she does appear in another issue of TPT later on, but it very clearly omits some crucial details, like her involvement with the Psychic Seven, and her actual name, and seems to depict her as being motivated entirely by a desire for power. After all, mentioning other details, like the like the effects their reckless experiments had on her mind, would make the Psychic Six, and by extension the Psychonauts, look bad.
At the end of the game we see Lucrecia’s portrait in the Motherlobe uncovered, and she’s been included in Adam’s history exhibit. idk it makes me feel some things
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I'll Have What They're Having
Word Count - 1.1k
Rating - T
Relationships - Willex, background Boggie
Content warnings - Alcohol
Okay, the description/explanation of this fic is basically @michelangelinden sent me this -
But with Willex and Boggie. And then I didn't want to do my homework and thought it would just be a few paragraphs, and then it got a bit longer than that... yeah, enjoy! Linden, this is your fault!
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Alex slipped into the single-stall bathroom at the back of the bar to get a break. Someone had started up the karaoke in the main area and it was just loud. Usually he was happy to go out with his friends, content with water or a mocktail or something while his friends drank, glad to see them all happy and relaxed. And this time wasn't really that different, he told himself. Just cause it was just him and Reg and Bobby here instead of the whole gang.
He liked hanging out with his friends, of course he did. But he also had been around the combination of them and alcohol enough times to know that they both got pretty affectionate once they started to get tipsy. And that had only gotten more pronounced once the two of them finally stopped pining and got together.
He'd hoped that they'd each just have one drink or something so they could chill and hang out, but Bobby was already on his third and Reggie had given up on trying to stay balanced in his own seat, opting for Bobby's lap instead. Alex was happy for his friends of course, but he wasn't the biggest fan of third wheeling on what was supposed to be a friendly hangout, free from the stress of band practices and work and whatever Flynn and Carrie had found to argue about now.
Alex sighed, maybe he could get them home before they started swallowing each other tongues at least. He splashed some cold water on his face, then headed back out into the dim, crowded bar.
But when he spotted his friends, he knew he was a bit too late. Reggie was still in Bobby's lap, but turned around to face him now, his arms around his neck as they made out. Alex could see Bobby's fingers already pulling at Reggie's tucked-in shirt, creating a space so he could rest a hand on his skin.
He rolled his eyes affectionately. Those two were going to get into trouble on of these days. But he was happy for them. If any two people Alex knew had a chance at a happy ending, it was Reggie and Bobby.
He grabbed a bar stool a couple seats down from them and pulled out his phone. They'd all driven together so it was gonna be a while before he could get out of here. Might as well level up his Bloons towers.
"Hey, can I get you anything?"
Alex looked up, startled by the voice of the bartender. It was a different guy than they'd talked to earlier. He had long, dark hair pulled back into a bun and a cheerful grin. He was kinda cute. Alex wished he wasn't the designated driver and could actually order something.
The bartender raised his eyebrows, waiting, and Alex realized he still hadn't said anything.
"Um, I'm not drinking tonight," he started, glancing over at his friends, who were still making out, "but I'll have whatever they're having," he added, going for a joke. Maybe it could actually start a conversation and he wouldn't be bored for the next hour or two until he could wrangle those two out to the car.
The bartender turned to look at the pair, then shrugged, reached across the counter, and grabbed the strings of Alex's hoodie. Alex barely registered what was going on before the guy pulled him into a firm kiss.
His first thought was to get away from this random person, but his second... He shifted so he could cup the guy's face and kiss him back. He felt the bartender's smile against his lips, and then a brush of his tongue against his lower lip. In for a penny, in for a pound, he thought, parting his lips to let the guy in.
Dang, this guy was a seriously good kisser. Alex did his best, but he had to admit he was a little out of practice. It had been a couple of years since he'd kissed anyone at all, let alone made out. But something about the guy, his steady movements, the faint taste of lemon on his mouth, the soft skin of his lips, it made Alex relax a bit. Go with the flow. Let this guy kiss him however he wanted.
After what was probably only a minute but felt like an eternity, the guy leaned back, breathing hard. Alex wanted to pull him back in, but he should probably get some oxygen into his lungs first. He took a deep breath, willing his heart to stop racing. When he looked up, the bartender was grinning, his face flushed and his lips red. A few strands of hair had come loose(Had Alex done that?) and fell around his face, framing it.
Dang he's pretty, Alex thought. "Ummm, can I..." he started, not sure where he was going, but wanting to... kiss him again? Hang out? Go on a date? "Can I open a tab?" he finished lamely.
The guy laughed, which wasn't really helping Alex's quest to slow his pulse. "That can be arranged," the guy told him with a mischievous grin. Then he held out a hand across the counter. "Willie."
"Oh, Alex," he responded, shaking his hand. "So... what are you doing tomorrow?"
"There's a coffee shop right up the street from here," Willie said. Then he glanced over at Reggie and Bobby, who Alex was pretty sure were going to suffocate each other soon if they didn't come up for air. "They make a mean black coffee for getting over hangovers."
Alex chuckled and shook his head at his friends. "Well I think I know of some people who are gonna need that," he replied. "10 sound good?"
"10 sounds great," Willie nodded. Then he reached under the counter and pulled out a sharpie. "Here, let me give you my number, I'll text you the address."
Alex was expecting him to grab a napkin or something, but instead he reached for Alex's arm. He easily pushed up the sleeve of his hoodie and wrote some digits on the inside of his forearm.
"Harder to lose that way," he explained, leaning back.
"Can't argue with that," Alex admitted. Someone down the bar called to get Willie's attention and they both sighed.
"See you tomorrow?" Willie said, tucking the pen away.
"Definitely," Alex replied, grinning.
Once Willie was gone, Alex pulled out his phone and sent a quick text.
Hey, it's Alex. What kind of coffee do you like?
A few hours later, when Alex was finally about to crash in bed after shoving Reggie and Bobby into their bedroom to crash on their bed instead of the living room floor, he got a text back.
Anything iced and sweet ;)
Like you
Alex laughed and sent a quick response. He was looking forward to tomorrow.
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The anti reactions from yesterday have me just shaking my head. I am by no means a professed stan of Jensen. I'm a fan of his works and I've followed his career, I appreciate his interactions with the public (like cons) as well as his public persona, but I don't worship the ground the guy walks on. He's a human being who I enjoy watching on my screen from time to time in different roles or displaying said public persona. That's it. I support him, but I don't stan him blindly, if that makes sense. Not him or any other celebrity.
That being said, I found the anti/critical reactions to something Jensen allegedly said that had been tweeted out from the Dallas Con to be very interesting and highly entertaining in some cases, especially with one particular anti blog that consistently claims to love this man and want the best for him while psychoanalyzing him and hating (and blaming everything that Jensen does/says that disappoints them) on his wife with the maturity level of a fourth grader. To put it bluntly, antis showed their asses yesterday and it is pure confirmation of what I and so many on here have been saying for quite some time now in regards to these posts/blogs.
Yesterday:
Tweet from the Gold Panel: "Jensen: 'he and I don't take on projects for the impact, we're serious about what we do.'"
Me: 'huh, you know, that wording seems a bit... Eh, you know what, knowing Jensen and how this fandom works anytime he dares to breathe, I'm going to wait to see the panel myself tomorrow and get the context of the question and his answer. If anything, he just misspoke, but I highly doubt he meant it in a bad way. Knowing him, he absolutely cares about the impact it has had on so many people and he might have thought the asker meant something else. Still, I'mma wait and see for myself.'
Antis:
and one particular blog (the one that claims to love him be in love with him):
'Jensen, you're no true actor and I would know since I'm an expert on acting! How dare you! You've hurt me so deeply!'
Today:
I watched the Gold Panel. Question was did the guys think about how massive the impact SPN would be in reference to their careers aka people knowing who they are, people following them, etc. Basically, did they know what it would become, something Jensen clarifies with the fan before answering. Jensen's actual response:
"Yeah, I don't, I mean, I guess to kind of quickly break it down, I don't think he and I go into any of these, uh, jobs or roles or stories thinking about the impact it's going to have externally. I think we go into it as...you know, they hire us to come in and do a job and...and he and I both, uh, we both take that job seriously even though it may not look like it all the time. But we also have a lot of fun doing the job because we truly enjoy doing what we do. That being said, we're not thinking 'oh let's do this because I want the effect that's going to have on a greater scale'. We're just doing our job. And hopefully, it resonates to people. Hopefully, somebody out there is entertained. And if that's the case, then we've done our job."
Me trying to see what had the antis losing their minds, especially that one blog and NOT finding it anywhere:
This is why you always watch the panels for yourself and avoid anti posts/blogs at all costs. They always claim they are there to be the opposite to AA's, to apply critical thinking, to view Jensen as human instead of a god, to be the ones with "a reality check", but they jump just as quickly as that group and crucify the guy before doing due diligence. Critical thinking should also include getting your facts straight before spreading misinformation (and in this case, more hatred). This is literally the same tool kit lawyers, law enforcement, and investigative journalists use all the time. It's good old common sense.
So block, mute, filter these people. Do whatever you gotta do, but this proves once and for all what we've all been saying. These anti/critical blogs that claim to "apply critical thinking" are full of shit.
Critical thinking is defined as "the objective analysis and evaluation of an issue in order to form a judgment." The reactions were not objective, especially the one blog that had an emotional heartbroken reaction. They were subjective, colored by their own biases. They did not analyze and evaluate the situation fully before issuing a judgement; they were missing a very crucial piece of the puzzle before they started sounding off and they knew it but they didn't care.
So the next time an anti/critical blog says in defense of their hating on/criticizing of Jensen (or anyone really) that they're applying critical thinking and you should try the same when you propose an alternative point of view (about Jensen or not), just remember it's all a smoke screen of bullshit. So again, block, mute, filter, whatever you gotta do. Personally, I think this shit's hilarious and entertaining on a Real-Housewives type level.
And that one blog that had such an emotional reaction to something that Jensen didn't even say in the way they thought he did, it's one thing for you to feel the way that you do, but spreading misinformation as you did, saying Jensen is no true performer, I don't know, maybe it's time to let go of your obsession with loving (aka being in love with) and hating this guy and move on?
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KOTLC adults are "things never to say to someone who just came out"
Tiergan: "I'm gayer"
We know.
Fintan: "In that outfit?"
Not everyone can come out wearing a pink leotard.
Councillor Emery: "Would you like to go on record stating that for our organization’s diversity initiative?"
There are already gay people on the council, that's not even necessary.
Forkle: "This has been so obvious ever since I started stalking you."
Fork man is kinda creepy ngl
Kesler: "Hi gay, I'm dad"
I have a fic where this is how he reacts to Dex coming out, that's how in character it is.
Alden: "How do you know?"
But how do you know you're gay? Just because you have a crush on someone the same gender as you doesn't mean you're gay. It could be just a straight bro crush.
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