#I'm. I'm normal chat

[thebibliosphere]

I feel like I've complained about Tim's email situation in Gotham Knights before (edit: I have), but the truth of it is just so funny.

He's signed up for so many podcasts, video game streamers, and random news alerts; it's just a constant barrage of data going straight into his constantly whirring brain. Hell, he even floats the idea of the Batfamily having their own podcast as a way to correct misinformation about them (which Jason shoots down instantly), and it's made me realize something.

Timothy Drake would be a YouTuber.

In this universe specifically, Timothy Jackson Drake, the heir to Drake Industries and the foster son of the late Bruce Wayne would be a YouTuber.

Think about it. It'd be the perfect cover. Who would ever suspect that some 16-year-old nepo baby with a YouTube channel could ever be Red Robin? You'd have to be mad. I mean, look at him.

Red Robin just dropped out of literal thin air and garotted someone four times his size, and you expect anyone to believe that's the same kid who does 24-hour Minecraft charity streams and occasionally drops 6-hour video essays (his last one was on Lex Luthor's illegal bit mining operation on the moon)?

That kid?

You think that kid is Red Robin?

Ch'yah, okay, sure. And the Joker is funny 🤡.

[asparkinhereyes]

one of my fav headcanons for damian is that he's one of those kids who graduates high school early, and i just think it'd be funny if he was going to college at around the same time tim is, for the sole reason that it would drive tim batshit insane.

[asmodeusamaryllis]

Happy Birthday Amuryllis Asmodeus 🩷 [13/6]

[skullzy20]

Hold on everyone I'm gonna be sick thinking about this

The fact the Drifter doesn't even feel like they belong in the Origin System is honestly painful. The fact they feel like everyone likes the Operator more because it's originally their timeline, and they've just grown to already accept that. The fact they feel actually at home in the fucking year of 1999.

The fact they feel like they were essentially being used when being sent back to 1999, but they end up staying and feeling more at home in the year despite being sent there like an errand boy. Feeling at home in a place you've barely been in for too long compared to everywhere else you've been for the rest of your life? That must feel wild, y'know? And exciting, but also terrifying.

They just have never felt like they belonged anywhere, basically, but when being sent off on a mission by the Lotus they end up actually feeling like the place they ended up felt like home. People finally care about them, and even love them. Friendships were formed and maybe even a true and genuine heartfelt relationship. Sure, they're still surrounded by daily threats like the Scaldra and Techrot, but there's people who actively care about their well-being now.

Imagine it, no longer actually being alone for most of your life? Having people who worry about you, for the first time in who knows how many years? Getting genuine human (as 'human' as the protoframes get) interaction instead of being called around to do jobs? To simply just exist in such a place? It must feel like a huge breath of fresh air

It's so human and it's so real. You finally begin to heal from the trauma that's been a part of essentially most- if not all your life before arriving. It's such a stark contrast to how things are in the Origin System. I wouldn't want to leave either.

Yeah I like the 1999 update a normal amount (lying)

[cozylittleartblog]

9th annual nick valentines day (ft. soup again) + doodle i made last year that i forgot about, from when bethesda gave us that free update

[merakiui]

you're right and you should say it. i'm tired of pretending vargas doesn't have huge breeder balls ready to knock you up at literally the first opportunity. deranged forest woodsman vargas chasing you down in the woods to fuck his children into you NOW

Omg yes....... this is exactly the appeal!!! Just,,, Vargas hunting a bunnygirl in the woods. >_< something something living in a cabin in the woods and finding you,, and you're so much smaller and weaker compared to him. He easily picks you up by your floppy ears and just holds you up to look at you. You could sit on his back while he does his push-ups and it wouldn't even be a challenge.... aaaa poor you, shaking and struggling in his grasp,,, cottontail twitching. So nervous. He'll praise you for being a fast runner.

Or perhaps you were injured when you tried to run,,, twisting your ankle or even sustaining injuries from the hunt.... so many scattered ideas, but the end result is that you're getting fucked into the dirt on your hands and knees. Hehe maybe you're on the cusp of heat, too....... your small bunny pussy is puffy and wet with slick and so very enticing. orz orz orz me next, Vargas. Please.

Like,,,, he literally has a voice line where he talks about how he was the most handsome and strongest in his town when he was younger (and still is today)........ just,,, the idea of taking you for himself as a prize of sorts because he caught you himself, and only the strongest deserves rewards such as you!!! I AM SO INSANE ABOUT HIM. AND HIS WHOLE WARDROBE IS TAILOR-MADE BECAUSE THE CLOTHING STORES NEVER CARRY HIS SIZE!?!?!??!?!?!?! ARE YOU JOKING WITH ME RIGHT NOW............. and he can bite through a leather belt,,,, the jaw strength....... and one of his talents is hunting..... it is destiny that you're just a poor bunnygirl caught at a bad time. <3 the rugged woodsman charm is too strong......

[knockknockitsnickels]

God I don't want to be too harsh because I know nobody means any harm by it but the way people analyze the Voices drives me crazy sometimes. Not even in the sense that I disagree with what's being written, but more in the sense of how these analyses treat the Princess.

I feel like in a certain section of the fandom there's this reluctance to admit that the Voices aren't always "positive" (for lack of a better term) characters? You'll see people give lip service to the idea that "it's good for a character to have flaws!" and then turn around and try to excuse their worst moments (and it's like. You don't have to do that. You can still like them).

And one of the consequences of this type of analysis is that the way the player's and the voice's actions affect the Princess is downplayed. I have seen analyzes of Happily Ever After which barely even mention the Princess, because they're so fixated on defending Smitten. I've seen people write off entire chapters as "bad" just because they didn't like the way the Voices were acting (with, again, barely a mention of the Princess). The Greys and the Witch chapters are arguably where both the Player and the Voices are at their worst, but fans will still twist around to make the Princess the sole villain of the story.

I don't know. I hate making these kinda posts because I don't want to shame anyone from writing/drawing something they love. But as a big fan of the Princess it's really saddening to see her pushed aside in favor of the male characters.

[d3cay1ngst4tic]

— like a cornered prey, yet i lick your claws.

contents. dark themes implied (?), sickening love, vampire!suguru, some yan!suguru themes implied.

★ jiah’s notes. idk i'm very normal about him

“hm?” suguru raises a brow, the corner of his lips tilting a little, and if you thought you were jittery, your cheeks were practically burning right now, “what’s wrong, sweetheart? you don’t look so good.”

(you are wrong. everything is wrong, you think.)

“nothing.” oh, you precious lamb. suguru revells in the way you choose to lie. to him, of all people— you really are his precious treasure, aren’t you?

suguru relishes in the way you gulp when he stands up. that little smirk transcends into a full-on grin, brown eyes so intensely fixated on you that you feel invisible hands softly but firmly hold you in place.

there is no escape.

(you know what you were doing.)

(he knows that.)

“you think,” a slender finger dips up your chin, and you find yourself staring back at those binds— eyes — “i don’t notice you starin’, darling?”

you are rather quick to reply. “i’m not.”

(out of wit, or out of nervousness? you tried hard not to think that it was the latter, even though your body language screamed out the truth.)

(a truth which suguru devours whole without so much a second thought.)

“really, now?” he hums, and you gulp again— a shaky breath escaping your parted lips when that little lump in your throat just won’t go away, no matter how much you try to calm yourself.

(he is the reason why it won’t go away.)

“are you sure? ‘cause i don’t think i’ve ever noticed you look so curious about my fangs before,” oh, that bastard knows exactly what he is doing to you. “say. you want to feel them or somethin’, hm?”

(he makes that trepidation in your little lamb mind creep around like a predator—)

(not waiting for a moment to strike, but for a moment of yield; a moment of submission.)

he doesn’t even have to try.

���. . .”

(a pause.)

“use your words, honey,” suguru coos. coos at you, and your mind goes blank again.

“yeah,” you stammer out. “i wanna feel them.”

(got you, suguru thinks.)

large hands wrap around your waist, tugging you oh so impossibly close, his breath so warm against your skin that it made you shiver.

“come feel them, then.”

the moment the pointed tip of his teeth graze your neck, you’re a goner. eyes fluttering close and your body melts in his arms— your heart hammering frantically against your ribs, like a rabbit trying to escape.

(run, rabbit, run, suguru’s hollow heartbeat seemed to say in such a sickeningly sweet taunt that you felt like you were going to throw up.)

“sweet little thing,” suguru croons, “go to sleep.”

@stxrysnow on tumblr. do not copy or post any of my works without my permission.

[king-lena]

“don’t argue roger just do it” is something i’m sure nick says on a pretty regular basis 😭

[nixiecat]

New laser tech for my appointment today and she went fucking crazy on me holy shit. like my legs are shaking.

[bantersnatch]

(formerly ds-sparrow-manufacturing-co because i just realised i changed my url since the last time i was active in this fandom 😭)

so. i am still many episodes behind. and experiencing the lore vicariously. that being said, please use this as a prompt to yell about the finale because i know whatever happens you will have the most correct opinions

hello hello !! looking forward to hearing your thoughts once you catch up <3

okay i'll take this opportunity to talk about the host's personal life.

last episode, they came to the decision that they wanted to seek a divorce. this episode we see them not wearing their wedding ring and in the process of arranging new lodging for themself (they're planning on moving into a new apartment, specifically)

this is fascinating to me because it's by far and away the closest indicator we've ever gotten of time concretely passing between episodes. the host has been making major life changes in between when we last saw them (in candice's episode) and in the finale. is this two week's worth of life changes (mapping time between episodes onto real life time gap)? maybe. hard to say. it's extremely interesting regardless to get puzzle pieces of the in-universe filming schedule.

so -- they're moving out, leaving the house to their absent husband in the divorce, and also leaving bianca and denzel behind.

they're seeking to Change themself and their circumstances. finding a new living environment, shedding their step-family, leaving behind the show in favor of the mirage of msnbc. they're trying to find a voice for themself, too -- wanting to improvise more (ironically enough) with their intro; working on a novel.

the narrative is actively hostile to these Changes.

the narrative cannot prevent the power of a season finale for allowing change in the status quo. the host sinks their teeth in and forces the change nevertheless, though it comes in a form that they did not choose (loss of opportunity, a monstrous son-thing, loss and loss and loss)

we as the audience know when we see them again, their circumstances will be much the same as when we first met them (shackled to the hosting job, cameras always watching, bianca waiting in the wings). it's just a question of how they themself will have changed.

[basket-of-radiants]

Why were you so disappointed by Rhythm of War?

This has been sitting in my askbox for years. I've taken several cracks at answering, only to get frustrated with the subject matter and burn myself out every time. I didn't like Rhythm of War. More than that, I didn't like it in a way that tainted my enjoyment of the entire series. And despite what it may seem, I don't actually enjoy discussing things which I don't like. I always want to talk from a place of good faith. Which is why now that my feelings towards the series are a little more positive, I think I can finally answer this.

I'm going to try to stay away from specific plotpoints and story beats for this post, because my goal isn't to nitpick (if for no other reason than it would take a week to write this post), I'm just looking to talk about my overall impressions. I think that might mean the only spoilers here will be structural? idk, if you haven't read Rhythm of War yourself then you should probably do that before looking for other people's opinions anyway. 

I liked Way of Kings when I first read it. I didn't love it at the time, but I liked it. Certainly enough to keep reading once I'd finished. One thing that made me a bit uncomfy, however, was the war against the Parshendi. They were this unknowable enemy which the book was not interested in knowing. An inhuman army. Their main purpose was to kill Kaladin's friends, or else be killed by Dalinar's armies. And yet the Parshendi, and the parshmen in the form of Shen, did show hints of personhood. And so it bothered me how Dalinar spoke so casually about how the Alethi had decimated their numbers, how the others used the war as a means to amass wealth and power. (It didn't bother me in a "this is a bad book" way but in a "these characters are bad people" way.)

One of my foibles as a reader is that when a book is very clearly treating one side of a conflict with more humanity, I tend to be a bit predisposed towards the other to account for that. And with the Alethi clearly being the invading party and superior military force, there was also some underdog favoritism. I didn't really like how the book treated the Parshendi. This is to say that going forward, the singers would be more important to me than any other through line.

So imagine my delight at reading Words of Radiance and meeting Eshonai, one of the Parshendi, who even gets her own point of view sections! They were no longer being treated as a faceless mass, we were getting to see things from their perspective as well. And it became plain to see the damage the Alethi had done to them. I couldn't really bring myself to root for Dalinar or really any of the humans against the listeners. I couldn't even bring myself to like most of these characters. I still enjoyed the book but once it became clear there wouldn't be a peaceful conclusion, let's just say that I wouldn't have wept for Dalinar and Adolin if Szeth had managed to off them. Like everyone in the book, I assumed that going forward all the parshmen would be turned into evil voidbringers in the everstorm and that the listeners were mostly dead. Except for Rlain, and Eshonai because I'd read or been told that book 4 would be Eshonai's book and thus had assumed she was fine. (Oathbringer spoilers, she was not fine.) So ultimately it was still a bit of a downer way to end the book. 

So imagine my delight at reading Oathbringer, where for the first time singers were being treated as people, full and real people, and where the human characters could no longer ignore or dismiss them. We met Khen and the others, common singers who were sympathetic and just wanted freedom from bondage. We see Venli grapple with the loss of her home. We see Leshwi and Moash connecting with and understanding one another. We learn of a history where singers were the original inhabitants of the planet. Parallel to this, Dalinar is having a truly excellent character arc about confronting one's past actions and acknowledging them to move forward and do better. I loved Oathbringer, for some years it was my favorite book, and I was excited as hell to see what came next. At the time, it seemed to me that there is a clear direction the story is going. Two books about needless war, and then a third where the main cast is forced to acknowledge the personhood of their enemies. This was so cool, all of my feelings from the previous installments were being validated, the characters were going to have to face what they've done in the past and outgrow their militaristic mindsets, I was so sure of that.

Imagine my disappointment when that does not even remotely resemble the direction the story went in Rhythm of War. RoW presented a clear, straightforward “us vs. them" narrative, where every character was totally fine with killing singers. Characters aligned with the singers were either flattened into wholly evil versions of themselves (Moash) or were expected to turn on their side in favor of the humans (Venli.) Because clearly there was no reason good people would be on the side that's all former slaves trying to stay free. Maybe there's some sort of accord or understanding between Navani and Raboniel that I might have found meaningful if the seeds of mutual understanding weren't already there in Oathbringer and then apparently ignored for a year by all the characters.

I have a lot of issues with how the listeners are handled in these books. (Here's some elaboration.) Following OB, I had thought that all my concerns were going to be addressed. Following RoW, I knew they never would be. 

Which is my main complaint, because that's the thread that matters most to me in this series.

I have a lot of other Things as well. Gonna just talk about a few big ones. 

One outsized source of disappointment that may seem a little petty, and which probably is, is that I felt mislead by the premise of the book. It had been announced that this book would center Venli and Eshonai, and I was unbelievably hyped for that. That did not really turn out to be the case. The purpose for their backstory chapters felt less about exploring them as people and contextualizing their arcs, and more about filling in gaps of world history. In the main plot, Venli was a POV character and she certainly played a role, but honestly not a very important one overall. To me she felt like a side character in her own book. I don't think it's controversial to say that the main character of RoW was Navani. A lot of people really like Navani and are happy about that. Unfortunately I'm not one of those people, and I found it all the more difficult to enjoy her when it felt like it was coming at the expense of some of my favorite characters. 

This particular gripe somewhat comes down to preference, obviously everyone prefers to read about characters they like more than those they don't, and it can go both ways. (For instance, on a craft/technical level RoW is probably the superior book to W&T, but I liked the latter a lot more because of my stupidly outsized attachment to Szeth and Nale.) But I do think there's something of a real criticism in how the book would rather focus on the feelings of a queen rather than those of a genocide survivor, and how the former's are given significantly more weight and import. It ties in with my main criticism, I think. 

And then there's how human/human racism had also been wholly cast aside as a plot point. Jasnah fixed slavery so that's resolved, and the only person who still cares about structural racism is the evil bad bad evil villain Moash/Vyre, who is now wholly irredeemable and who you're allowed to totally write off because he's sold his soul to Odium. I've already talked a lot about this. Other people have already talked about this, probably better than me. The writing was actually on the wall for me in OB, but again, RoW was when I fully accepted that this was never going to be addressed. 

There's something else that probably deserves its own discussion rather than being quickly tacked on at the end here, but here we are. This book changed how the series approaches war. 

In WoK, war was very clearly portrayed as a bad and inglorious thing. It was brutal, it was painful, those at the bottom died cruelly and unceremoniously and pointlessly while those at the top turned a profit. Every day was a new horror. The enemy were never evil, they were always just more people forced to go through the same thing. Through the next couple books, it felt to me that even if the characters had accepted war as necessary, there was still a tragedy to it. Conversely, in RoW (and W&T) war is basically a series of boss battles, in between which our protagonists can kill dozens of footsoldiers with barely a thought in the same way WoK had criticized.

Final note on all this, it sucks how we have no perspectives from the former-slaves-singers demographic. Those guys are really thrown under the bus, and seemingly get no self-determination now or ever. It was a glaring problem to me in RoW. Conscripted and enslaved humans and singers probably have just as much ground to form mutual understanding as a fused and a queen. (In fact they already had. In Oathbringer.)

In essence, RoW disappointed me because it left me with the distinct impression that none of the series's most important through lines (well, most important to me) were going to be resolved well. I liked W&T, but I haven't revised my opinion very much about the overall handling of these topics across the series. Maybe one of the reasons I was able to enjoy W&T so much more was because I no longer had such high expectations.

[darkxwolf17]

Chat.... There's no fucking way.... Guys... I need a minute. Guys. I'm normal I'm.so normal

[lets-go-hurt-someone]

Durge (sighing dramatically like a besotted Victorian debutante): Do you remember our first date? Why don’t you do anything romantic like that for me anymore?

Astarion: Our first date? What, when we had sex in a forest?

Durge: No, our first date, not the first time we had sex. Gods. What do you think of me? I’m not a beast.

Astarion: Darling, we have been trudging through the wilderness since the moment we met. We have literally never been on a date.

Durge: Yes we have! It was on the beach, remember? It was perfect. You were perfect!

Astarion: Do you mean when I held a knife to your throat outside the smouldering ruins of a ship full of eldritch horrors and threatened to kill you?!

Durge (all dreamy smiles and googley-eyed): Yes, it was wonderful. Almost as good as our second date, when you bit me and finally made good on your promise!

Astarion: Absolutely none of that was a—oh gods. Was leaving me behind when the crèche blew up your idea of a proposal?!

Durge: Of course dear, I didn’t want you to think I don’t return your feelings!

[whyseverynametaken01]

different picture, same vibe.

I love them chat.

[unpretty]

What is the fediverse?

The fediverse is as if you took X, TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, and Facebook and made them all interoperable so you could post anything from anywhere, and all your followers would be guaranteed to see it. And if you wanted to leave one platform for another, you could bring all your content, all your followers, all your everything with you.

i've reached a point in my life where i simply am not interested in posting on websites where any ol' dickhead could buy it and turn it into a crypto advertising platform if they feel like it. i'm tired. i'm not doing this shit again on another website that promises this time will be different. let me self-host or fuck off. tumblr is grandfathered in because i'll be here until matt kills it for good, but unpretty.space will be my only other social media if i can help it. i might change what software i'm running but the url should stay the same.