#IT future-proofing

[radiantindia]

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[scatterbrainedbot]

cass, a professional: order of badass donbot, extra dramatic entrance!

me, nodding, banned from most kitchens: leo drama and angst, heard chef!

(shoutout to @somerandomdudelmao for yet again making feel emotions i cannot fully explain)

[burst-of-iridescent]

it will never not be bizarre to me that kat.aangers use the fortuneteller episode as foreshadowing for ka when literally every possible interpretation of this episode is anti kat.aang.

if aunt wu's prophecies are unquestionably true, then kat.aang is DOA right off the bat because she explicitly says she doesn't see romance in aang's future. yet kat.aangers love to uphold the “powerful bender” prophecy as foreshadowing for kat.aang so… which is it? are aunt wu’s prophecies only eternally binding for katara but conveniently untrue when it comes to aang? because if katara marrying a powerful bender is unchangeable, then so is aang not being able to find love, so that’s strike no. 1 for ka foreshadowing.

now on the other hand, if we take aunt wu's prophecies as false, then our boy aang is free to do all the lovin’ he wants… but following the same logic, so is katara. and since her prophecy is the catalyst for her seeing him as a potential romantic partner at all, that’s strike no. 2 for foreshadowing.

finally, we come to the last interpretation and the episode's actual message: that destiny is real, but not immutable. throughout the episode, it’s clear that aunt wu's prophecies do come true, though not in the way that their subject(s) might expect. the future isn’t created through passive acceptance, but active agency. everyone has the power to shape their own destiny, and make their own choices.

this is the complete opposite of katara beginning to view aang in a romantic light solely because sokka makes an entirely on-the-nose comment about him being a powerful bender. because had katara not heard her prophecy, that would have meant nothing to her! how is this meant to be the spark that fuels the kat.aang relationship when it's entirely based on katara holding herself to a prophesized future instead of writing her own story, and hence antithetical to the fundamental theme of the episode?

which is also why so many people interpret this episode to be lampshading zutara, because the only way that all of these contradictory interpretations — aang isn’t meant to find love, katara is meant to marry a powerful bender, but both of them still have the power to shape their own paths — make sense is if the final scene was an intentional red herring… but that’s a discussion for another time.

[crimsonspring]

"my star, that's not what i had meant." xavier's voice, as always, is as gentle as can be. she's over-consumed with anger, grasping at straws in attempts to validate her desperate want to scream at him, so she tries to think of a time when he'd raised his voice at her, and she can't. not even by a singular decibel.

xavier, a man so fitting of his angel-like features, was the kindest and gentlest soul she's ever known. even during their biggest fights, (she wonders if he'd even consider them fights, because he never fights back) he'd only ever gently explains his thoughts as she snaps and throws her arms up in frustration. this time, it's no different.

"oh come on, xavier. you meant exactly what you said - you don't think i can do it!" she speaks accusingly, deep lines of upset drawn in between her brows as she frowns. "you said "i don't think it's a good idea to involve yourself in this mission," did you not?" xavier opens his mouth to speak, but shuts it soon after. because she was right, she had quoted him verbatim.

she scoffs, shaking her head as she glares at her lover. "and yet, your name was the first one i saw when they released the list of hunter confirmed for the mission! do you see me as less, xavier? i know i'm not as experienced as you are, but i'm still a good hunter!"

xavier has his head hung low, blonde strands covering his guilt ridden blue orbs. he feels guilty, there's no question about it. yet, the small selfish part of him, ruled by the memory of his dying lover's body turning cold in his own arms, makes no way for regret to reside in his body. till this day, though a long time since the memory was birthed, there isn't a day where the feeling of his legs growing numb from staying frozen in place, fearful of any minuscule movement that will reinforce the fact that she has died, doesn't haunt him.

it was not as though he isn't aware of her capabilities as a hunter. she was talented beyond words. the way she moved and danced with the swords and weapons against the wanderers like the battlefield was a stage for her very own recital - her skills captivates him every time he had the honour of sharing the battlefield with her.

but he won't lie, ever since doctor zayne himself had pulled him aside secretly after he had accompanied her to her monthly appointment to advise him to be cautious of her overexerting herself physically at work due to her heart condition (and though neither doctor zayne nor she has given him much clue about the true urgency of her condition, he cannot help but be haunted by the fear and frustration in the cardiac surgeon's eyes), the fear has kept him up on more nights than he thought possible.

he's still silent, unsure how he'd like to go about this. as worried as he is, he bets it's an even more difficult experience for her to go through. her condition was something they barely talked about, she often shrugs off the topic every time it was brought up. xavier understands that she fears it too - almost to the point that she overcompensates for it by being too fearless. xavier wishes they could just simply talk about their fears together, but he doesn't know how to.

"so? nothing else to say now?" she almost challenges him, scoffing yet again in disbelief as she finally pulls her glare away and crosses her arms. xavier actually has a million and one things that he wishes to say, the bulk of it being apologies and the truth that's been weighing so heavily in his heart.

xavier is soft spoken, his body often the pen that writes the words he wishes to speak. "i.." he begins, then shakes his head as he steps in front of her, and so naturally, gets on his knees. an arm wraps around the back of her knees, and his free hand captures one of her own. he finds strength in the warmth of her skin, a reminder and reassurance that she was still alive and well - and he shan't squander this chance.

"i apologise, my heart." he sighs, grateful when she doesn't pull away. there is still stiffness and hesitance in her body and he doesn't blame her for that, understands that she's upset. nervously, he looks up at her, a little desolate when he sees her purposefully looking away. he takes her hand to his lips, where they press a soft kisses on each of her fingers. he doesn't know the intent is to comfort her, or himself. though he enjoys the imprints of her skin against his own, would tattoo the art lines of her fingerprints onto every inch of his body if he could.

"without a doubt in my heart, i know you're the bravest woman alive. enthrals me to no end how you're so beautiful, so talented and so intelligent all at the same time. all the marvels in the world stored in you." his eyes never once strayed away from her face, and you could see the twinkling in his eyes as he continues to watch her like she was the embodiment of the flowers that bloom in spring - and this garden was a place he'd be the most devoted pilgrim for. and with the honour of being the one she loves, how could this soldier not want protect his beloved treasure?

"but in all honesty, i'd been a bit worried since your last appointment. you've never truly told me what happened, so i don't know how to gauge things." he continues his explanation, still on his knees as he continues to press his kisses against her skin. this part of the explanation though, sends a shiver down his own spine as he recollects the reality of the situation. his star might not be okay, and he doesn't know what to do to cure her, except to just protect her. pulling his eyes away from her, he whimpers and presses his forehead against her abdomen. "i'm just scared."

the prince of philos is on his knees. a man with enough power to rule a planet, but in his eyes, that will all go to shame - rendered useless - if he can't find a way to save her.

"i understand that you don't feel comfortable with telling me what's going on.. but i know that it's not good. i don't know how to make you feel better, so i figured at least, i could do my best to keep you from harms away." he feels her fingers comb through his blonde locks, and he impossibly nuzzles closer to her, his arms tightening around her torso. "if you tell me what i can do, my love, i'll do it."

"i swear to you. tell me what i can do. tell me what you need, and i'll travel a million times around the world for it."

[anyataylorjoys]

FANTASMAS (2024) dir. Julio Torres Episode 3: "Toilets"

[tategaminu]

The fandom before S7: Callum is gonna end up as an archmage teaching magic to other humans

Callum in S7: I'm gonna be the best househusband and babysitter ever

[erinwantstowrite]

I’m excited for the chapter when we see how Gotham views Peter + Spider-man. Cause they must have obviously noticed a new kid hanging around the Wayne’s and at first they’re like “Bruce did it again” but they look closer and they’re like “wait that kid looks like dick?? Why is dick being fatherly with this random???? Is dick someone’s baby daddy????”.

They’ll try to do the math: “this kid looks to be 12 and dick is 29 so HE WAS 17 WHEN HE HAD HIM?????!??!”

well the waynes are publicly involved with gotham programs and all that, so it's not too out of the way to see a couple waynes around gotham shopping with a kid or helping out, etc. and then while at the manor, peter hasn't left other than to hang out with dick, adn they've been pretty incognito for the most part. the only people that know where peter went are the kids that Maps hangs out with, Benny, and those people from the diner. all of which didn't take pictures

what i'm saying is is that at some point we're definitely gonna have a plotline where Vicki Vale tries to have everyone believe that Dick is Peter's dad and every single one of our beloved characters gaslight the fuck out of her, as per usual. to the point that they probably create fake photos to make it look like peter is a cousin or something, and their shared relatives just have very strong genes on that side of the family. cause they love to lie

though sometimes i do think dick would claim that peter is his son, regardless of the rumors that come out of it

[fixated-on-something]

These accidentally lined up on my Pinterest board. I can’t do this. This parallel framing is going to kill me.

[immortaledd]

Why are we listening to Charlie and not THE GUY WHO LIVED WITH THE VIRUS FOR 40 YEARS??

Please read this in a tone of someone screaming behind a glass window in a straight jacket - not as an authoritative guardian scolding you. I am tweaking out, not crashing out

“Eclipse is acting weirdly because he’s already violent, so it’s turning him into the opposite.”

this isn’t an Opposite Virus, it’s a Ruin Virus, a Virus specifically made to turn people violent to unleash a large kill rate.

The Virus stems from Patient Zero, Ruin.

Ruin- when they were Sun and Moon, is supposed to be a kill-bot to fit The Creator’s goals. The Creator created DCA’s to be murderers. The Virus that stemmed (OUT OF THE CREATOR’S CONTROL) was LIKELY created BECAUSE OF THAT CODING.

Montgomery Gator is ALSO a violent animatronic. He is not CONSTANTLY aggressive or angry like Eclipse is, but he is probably the most violent-by-default we have seen affected by the virus. He is quick to conclusions, revenge, insulting or degrading, but typically to people he believes deserves it. For example, the time Montgomery tried to KILL RUIN when Ruin was “cured” in TSAMS. He only became MORE. VIOLENT.

THAT’S WHY IT’S SO WEIRD!!! THAT’S WHY RUIN’S SO DAMN CONFUSED! THAT’S WHY RUIN HIMSELF IS SCARED!

You can NOT be taking the opinions from CHARLIE.

She is a child, she has no idea what she’s even dealing with, she has never had prior experience to The Virus or even her own MAGIC before, and Charlie has VERY OFTEN created these ideas that were PROVEN to be false. WHEN SHE PROPOSED THE IDEA that “it affects everyone differently”, she was IMMEDIATELY PROVEN WRONG THROUGH HER OWN CONTRADICTIONS!

Stepping away from in-character, from a writer standpoint -

Davis created the Virus narrative, Davis created Ruin’s story and the character himself, Davis knows what’s going to happen and why things are going the way they’re going.

LISTEN TO “THE DIRECTOR”’S CHARACTERS. Whoever is CONTROLLING THE STORY is the actor you pay MOST ATTENTION TO!!!!

[tiredandoptimistic]

What I enjoy so much about Angel's curse as a plot device is how it works to expose who he is as a person and call up questions about what it means to be good or evil.

The intent of the curse was nothing but punishment. Angel would be forced to feel the guilt of everything he'd done, and if he ever let go of the guilt enough to experience pure joy, it would all be stripped away from him. It wasn't about giving him a soul so that he could be a better person, it was all just to maximize his suffering. And well, it does a pretty damn good job. For almost a hundred years, Angel spent his time wallowing in guilt and misery. He wasn't contributing anything to the world, but he wasn't taking anything away from it either (unless you count the rats he was eating). Until Whistler comes along and shows him a glimpse of Buffy Summers, and suddenly his life has a purpose again.

In the first season and a half of Buffy, Angel tries to actually do some good for the first time in his life. He makes the choice to use his abilities to help people, and it changes everything. He lets himself fall in love with Buffy, and as a side effect he concentrates more on the positive potential of his future than the shadows in his past. Turning evil is his punishment for allowing himself to be happy, and it exposes the hypocrisy of the original curse. Guilt and punishment was effective in keeping Angelus out of the world, but it's also what brought him back. Angel lost his shot at joy, and so did Buffy and Giles and Jenny and all the others. It's such a good representation about how punitive justice cannot lead to positive change. Arguing that his past crimes make him unworthy of any hope just leads to him going back to his wicked ways. If he'd been allowed to be happy, the Scoobies wouldn't have lost one of their most powerful allies and the world wouldn't have been nearly swallowed by Acathla.

Having a soul was never meant to be a reward. It wasn't supposed to be a shot at redemption, but he found his way to Buffy and was redeemed anyways. The hundred years of sitting around being sad did a lot to shape who Angel is, but it didn't motivate him to try and be better. It was Buffy that made him genuinely strive for a brighter future and save hundreds of lives along the way. It wasn't guilt that made him a good man, it was hope.

[ifistayitwillbedouble]

i just really don't have any byler doubt anymore. why would the writers break down milkvan's relationship in the second-to-last season while simultaneously building byler up so much. that's it. they're a team now and milkvan isn't. we watched how well they worked together and then they ended the season side-by-side. and based on the leaks we have, that's going to continue into the final season :))

[dinoshi64]

Since 2023 (or 4, can't recall lol), I've been working on making more fleshed-out, extended sprites for Catti. Progress has been going well! Even if slow at times.. and since the new chapters of Deltarune are not only approaching soon but also imply that she'll have a major role, I wanna finally showcase the work I've done online! Before the sprites become instantly outdated...

Anyway, first are more of her Overworld sprites:

Some Cattington related animations :3

Overworld sprites of her QC attire:

Now for the best part... I hope-

DARK WORLD SPRITES!!! With a custom witch outfit I designed myself!

Battle sprites:

And for last, her Overworld sprites in the Dark World:

I've actually already released a WIP sprite sheet on the Spriter's Resource, so check out the link below if interested!

Hopefully I'll get the whole sheet done before chapters 3 and 4's release, but I can't guarantee anything. I also hope y'all enjoy what you saw! Again, I've been working on these for 3 years now, and I'm trying my best to finish the sheet as fast as possible before we get to see her official Dark World design and her full sprites in general. Even if I'm, of course, excited how those will look too! But ngl it's been pressuring me a bit with my own work lol. I have done a good chunk of the sprites by now though, so it shouldn't take any longer...

[clowndensation]

anyways when richard siken said "if you can point to it, you don't need a word for it. you only need a word for it when it's no longer there"

and when tolkien said "but of bliss and glad life there is little to be said, before it ends; as works fair and wonderful, while still they endure for eyes to see, are their own record, and only when they are in peril or broken for ever do they pass into song."

and when claudia said "diaries are friends of last resort"

we don't see madeleine and claudia in their months together because their happiness was created in the present and presence of each other, and captured only in the eyes of the other. there's no need to share to strangers what was already shared between the people it mattered most to. the voyeurs of the world will only ever see the outline of where pleasure lies.

[felixcosm]

Say whatever you want about Dylan's Russian being rusty but WOE.BEGONE is like one of the only podcasts out there that has slavic characters that aren't the big bad villain.

[gammaraydeath]

"you look... nice..." kasumi says as shepard clonks in like a rhino on stilts looking like a gorilla stuffed into a party dress. just as hairy too. she should have waited to buy the outfit until after she saw the woman in person

[flowers-darkened-by-raindrops]

Hermit a Day May, Day 30!

Doc!