#Jackie chose the outfit

[heywoodvirgin]

[assiraphales]

laszlo being able to go outside during the day for the first time in hundreds of years is actually one of the nicest things the writers could have done for him. he’s the one who has always been the most connected to his humanity, who chose to embrace it rather than vanquish it after he was turned. he loves poetry and literature and gardening and home improvement shows and fashion. when he ran away and got the chance to be anyone, he chose to be jackie daytona bartender who spent every night talking to humans & going to volleyball games. he was the one who took colin under his wing and stayed behind to raise him as a baby. his best friend is a human named sean. he probably spent hours planning a day out in the sun. how he’d go to the beach and stand in the ocean. he probably had that outfit picked out years in advance just in case . good for him

[misty-caligula]

Okay this is gonna be long, but I’ve got a lot of ground to cover so please bear with me. In a real way, this is my series thesis.

I’ve said before, many times now (like a cycle) that for me the most important scene is ep 1 act 1 scene 1. There’s something There that I have been struggling to see clearly, struggling to articulate, and s2e9 really finally gave me the last pieces for it.

I think that Pit Girl is the point of the entire story. But not in the way that I thought going in. I feel like I’m rambling, so I’m going to try to structure my thoughts.

Imagine you’re a new viewer. You haven’t watched yj start to finish 30 times, you’ve never even buzzed before. You turn on the tv and the FIRST thing that happens is you see ... brutality. A half dressed girl chased through the freezing woods, murdered without a chance. They drag her through the snow, string her up, pour her blood on the ground. Hack her into unrecognisable chunks. Sit around in scary outfits and rip at her, with a huge focus on the teeth, as horror music plays. Then, Misty takes off her mask, puts on her glasses, and does the worst possible thing. She smiles. Directly at you.

Again, forget everything you know and go on vibes. You’re seeing the teens pre-crash, and you’re seeing them in the third timeline, fully formed, with horror motifs and covered in fur. You’d be mistaken for thinking that you were seeing start and end. Except that... we know, and you know, that Pit Girl is the middle. These monsters somehow came back from this. How? When they’re so so so far gone?

Hence the show. I know I’m not breaking new ground here, but bear with me. I’m going somewhere.

(Edit: Readmore added because honestly, LONG post)

You’d be forgiven, fresh-faced new viewer, for thinking you were watching some kind of gross-out slasher. But what happens in S1? Restraint. Laura Lee, the first non-crash victim dies at the end of episode eight. Jackie end of ep 10. (For the sake of this thesis we’re going to be almost exclusively focused on the teens.)

And yet there’s this tonal shift, It’s like ... inevitability. Like watching a crack in a window that’s very slowly spreading. Everything is steadily Getting Worse. The weather is slowly getting colder, the days are getting darker, food’s getting scarcer, life is getting harder. But so much of this difficulty is coming from external events and pressure. Yes, cracks start to show in the internal relationship dynamics, of course, but if food was plentiful, if shrooms were less so, if the weather were better, then they could probably work out a very long term stable situation. Sadly for them, things are not stable, and the pressure is building.

Then Jackie dies and the glass gets a really big break.

It’s worth mentioning at this moment that Jackie at any time could’ve come the fuck inside. Safety and warmth and even love were available to her. All it would’ve required was for her not to be the centre of the world. To make actual goddamn concessions and join the team. Which is why she couldn’t possibly make that choice, because she had to be invited, she had to be apologised to, she had to be accommodated. She couldn’t see the rest of the ‘jackets as being people who just like her were in a really shitty situation. She saw them as being external, as being in cahoots against her, as being part of some Thing that she wasn’t in on. She couldn’t let go of the society they’d left, and she preferred to die. Which sure is a choice...

Keep all of that in mind though. We’re taught to blame Shauna for Jackie’s choices. Let’s stop with that. Jackie chose not to assimilate, she looked around the cabin at the team eating the bear and praying to the wilderness and instead of just paying lip service to fit in, like Tai, she decided to put her foot down and make a Thing of it. She decided that being Right was more important than being Included.

Seriously, keep that in mind, we’re coming back to it. Cycles, you know...

Season 2, everyone’s hungry and hey we have this spare Jackie lying around. And we joke like “ha, you gonna eat that?” Only...

No. They WEREN’T going to eat her.

Really think about that for a second. They put her in the meat shed. With the bear. Think about what that does, psychologically. Linguistically. The meat shed is made to store food. The bear has a word: carcass. Day after day after week after month they carve progressively more pathetic chunks from it, subsisting on what little it offers. In the EXACT same room, sitting right there is Jackie. Her body has a different name. Corpse. With many different connotations. At NO point does ANY of them raise the fact that they’ve taken their friend and added her to their meat stockpile.

Because they haven’t. Instead, they’ve added a new sub-room. The meat shed is now also a morgue. And nobody ever once had to say it. They got it. We got it. You got it. And while they starved and their bodies BEGGED for food, Jackie’s corpse lay there, frozen and fresh, and stubbornly refused to become a carcass, because they wouldn’t let it. They knew that there were more important things than meat, even when they were starving.

The bacchanal was a mistake. A literal error. It simply wasn’t planned, wasn’t meant to go down that way. Maybe if they HAD considered that route earlier and had a discussion about it they’d have been prepared, psychologically, maybe if they weren’t so starved. Who knows. But in the middle of the night they were offered a way out, and they took it.

But Shauna took it first.

Even in their state, even faced with an ideal roasted feast infront of them, they waited until Shauna said it was okay. Because Jackie was Shauna’s friend, and they knew that she was still a person. That this was still a corpse first. It was Shauna who was able to give them permission to survive. To turn a friend into a meal. It was not their place to take that step. To shoulder that guilt. So Shauna did it for them.

The next day they’re devastated. The heavy reality sets in, now the hunger is settled. And Jackie’s carcass is far too real, they can’t change her back into a corpse. Nat tries, bless her heart. But Tai’s screaming reaction at having eaten Jackie’s face is only an externalisation of the grief and horror and agony they’re all going through.

And after Jackie they starve again. Hope and heat and light dwindles further. Every single day they all take another step towards death. That’s what starvation is, it’s the same thing as dying, you die a little bit every day until you can’t die anymore.

Kristen falls. Misty doesn’t even consider that she might bring her back as meat. If she had’ve, she might think, maybe she’d be considered like ... heroic. It doesn’t even occur to her. She’s not going to LET those bitches eat her one and only friend, and she goes out of her way to protect her.

Shauna has her horror show birth. And, no matter WHAT the context is, she produces.... meat. In the most awful, brutal way. And while the fandom made so many jokes and stuff, the reality is that yes... at least to an extent there was real nutrients there. And it was never once even brought up as an option, by these desperate, starving girls. 

When Coach tries to kill himself, here’s a ready source of willing meat. And Misty uses it as a threat to stop him. But it’s hollow, she’s just putting on fake fangs to try to keep him safe. She’s not actually that vicious thing that she’s pretending to be, just like she’s not actually homophobic.

When Lottie tells Misty to eat her if she dies, Misty fights her on it. Lottie has to insist. Then when she tells the rest of the team, they are so overwhelmed with the selflessness of the gesture that it inspires them to twist it into their first hunt. That’s what it takes. The hunt is an act of self-sacrifice and love.

And so we get to the hunt. The proto-pit-girl, we’ve come full circle and we start to learn all these answers to questions posed in act 1 scene 1. And they’re not the answers that were assumed.

How do they get to the point of eating each other? They sacrifice themselves willingly, for the sake of each other’s survival.

Why do they hunt the way they do? Because Shauna just can’t stand to murder a friend in cold blood, a friend she cares for and has no reason to hate.

Why the spike pit? Because it keeps the blood off their hands. Because it lets them blame It and preserve a tiny fragment of their innocence.

Why the weird symbols? The ritual itself? Because they need SOMETHING to hold onto, to make it all make sense.

Why so brutal? Is it? We THINK it’s brutal. It’s certainly bloody. But Pit Girl dies almost instantly. Her pain is over fast. She doesn’t have a good time going into it, obviously, none of them want to die. But she chose to run, she could’ve taken the knife instead. And the spike trap was efficient. Yes they drag her through the snow and string her up, but it’s mechanical and just part of the process and she’s dead already. Her pain is over fast, it’s not sadistic.

Why do they chop her up into chunks like that? Because nobody wants to eat her face. Because nobody wants to struggle with her humanity, they want her to look just like any other meat. So that they might be having deer or bear or ... friend. They’re eating because they are biological machines that need to eat, that NEED death to survive. They didn’t ask to be made the way they are, and they’re doing their best to cope. Shauna, probably blindly, takes on that responsibility, to transform their friend into unrecognisable meat to change a corpse into a carcass. She takes that pain for them, holds that sin for them, out of love. So they can eat, so they can survive.

What’s with the creepy horror masks? During the ritual they can’t handle being themselves. They create alternate versions of themselves to hold what must be done. The masks aren’t there to scare anyone, because there IS NO AUDIENCE. The masks are there to hide behind. That’s why Misty takes hers off at the end of the scene. The ritual is over and they can go back to being people again.

Why is Misty fucking Quigley in charge? Because she CAN be. Because she’s strong enough. If Lott/Nat/The AQ is the goddess/queen, Misty is the priestess/handmaiden, tasked with actually carrying out her orders. She interprets the queens words when she’s too weak, she provides counsel when she needs it, she tells the team what they need to hear in the moment, she gives out the micromanagement. Misty’s the power behind the throne, because when she says she’ll do something she fucking follows through. No matter the cost. And what the team NEEDS, whether they choose to admit it or not, is a backbone.

So...

They bring home Javi. The music uses a reference that’s never been done before. It uses the spiritual powerballad that was playing when Laura Lee tried to fly away. It builds the expectation of Great Things, of big, potent ...

And then it just stops. As the girls are faced with the reality of what’s laying on the table. The cold, blue corpse of a soft child who never hurt anyone. No matter what they do, no matter how hard they try they just cannot make him a carcass. But they have made the choice already, and if they turn back now it’s not like it’ll bring him back. They’ll just be starving and regretful as he rots.

So Shauna, blind and shaking, does the best she can. And when she brings in the meat, she - of all people - understands EXACTLY what Travis is going through. She knows what he needs. Because she’s been here. With Jackie. So she brings him Javi’s heart. His core. His love. His soul.

(She doesn’t bring him Javi’s head. She cuts that off and puts it aside so nobody has to eat his face... Some things are worth more than pure nutritional survival.)

And Travis, god bless him, does the only thing he can do left to respect Javi. He takes his heart, and he bites it, raw and bloody.

It hurts him to do so. It disgusts him so much, but he manages not to throw up. It disgusts the girls too, but they watch on, horrified. And that’s the POINT. Travis makes sure that before they do this, before they do what they have to... that they all remember this is Javi, this is human, this is a person. And he preserves the horror. For all their sakes. And only then, after he’s given his blessing, after he’s done his human acts, do these starving, ravenous girls allow themselves to reach for their food.

S1E1. Act 1, scene 1. We do not know who Pit Girl is. We do not know the exact circumstances that get us there. But we do know where we started now. What the original meaning is behind each of these little things. And it’s not brutality, not barbarism. It’s love. It’s not lord of the flies, a bunch of monstrous human-shaped creatures giving in to their primal nature and predating on each other. It’s a team of terrified people desperately clutching at their own humanity as hard as they can. Trying SO hard not to let that glass break, to not become the thing that the framing of act 1 scene 1 tried so VERY hard to convince us they were. Context changes everything.

And the proof is in the pudding. After they eat Jackie the shock explodes throughout the cabin. The atmosphere is thick, and horrific. Now with Javi, reduced to simple meat, carefully and lovingly seperated from what made him human, so they can grieve him while they sate their natural needs, the mood post-eating is calm and soft and warm and loving. For once they’re all together,  with grateful full stomachs and in a time of peace and plenty. They’ve done the impossible and maintained their humanity and love for each other and their respect for Javi in a nearly impossible situation.

*takes a deep breath*

Which brings us to THIS asshole.

Right from the start, Jackie is only kind of part of the team. She’s the team captain, put up there by Coach Martinez, but not because she’s the best of them but because she can maybe wrangle them into doing better. And they KNOW that she’s not really one of them. They plot around her, and just don’t bring her in on it. They put up with her, more than loving her, she’s just kind of forced upon them. But she does her best, to try to maintain some semblance of order, giving pep talks and the like.

Wait, Jackie? I mean coach. My bad.

Anyway, so Jackie has one friend, Shauna. She SEEMS popular, and everyone talks to her, but Shauna’s the only one who actually likes her. And Shauna’s her connection point to the team. She’s got one foot on each side, and is torn as to where her real loyalties lie.

Sorry I’m talking about Jackie again.... weird.

In S1E9/10 Shauna finally chooses the team, for real. And Jackie tries to pull her back away, but Shauna puts her foot down. No way, she counters, I’m ON the team, you’re the odd one out. Why don’t YOU leave, Jackie? Jackie looks around at the burgeoning cult, she thinks “Look at these evil monstrous bitches, and now Shauna’s one of them TOO?” And instead of finding a compromise, instead of doing introspection, instead of anything like that, Jackie goes and freezes to death because it turns out that sheer rage won’t keep you warm in sub zero temperatures. Because no matter what happens, Jackie’s Right and it’s more important to her to be Right than Included. If she’s not in charge than why is she even THERE?

Hold on, I see my mistake. Let me backtrack.

Right from the start, Coach is only kind of part of the team. He’s trying to hide from his real life, from Paul and the complexities of being genuine in society by taking on the job of coaching the ‘jackets. And they KNOW that he’s not really one of them. He’s just the guy they have to listen to, because society put him there. But he tries his best, giving pep talks and the like.

So Coach has one friend, Natalie. He SEEMS popular, and everyone talks to him, but Nat’s the only one who actually likes him. (Ignore Misty, a schoolgirl comphet crush is not the same thing). And Nat’s his connection point to the team. She’s got one foot on each side, and is torn to where her real loyalties lie. Sometimes she’s on the bench with Coach, complaining about the state of things. Sometimes she’s in the thick of it with them all, and Coach is nowhere to be found.

In S2E9, Nat finally chooses the team, for real. And Coach tries to pull her back, but Nat puts her foot down. No way, she counters, I’m ON the team, I’m worse than them, you’re the odd one out. Go, save yourself, you don’t belong in this place. Coach looks at a table covered in blood and gore, at Nat’s face, at the rest of the team pledging fealty to her. And instead of looking for context, or looking for compromise, or even remotely trying to understand what he’s looking at he thinks

Look at these evil monstrous bitches. They’re eating each other. They’ve all gone mad. They’ve even gotten Nat now. There’s no hope for them, there’s no hope for anyone out here.

And he decides that they’re corrupt. That the way you deal with that is fire. And he’s wrong.

(I have a theory that he’s gone and jumped off the cliff, that he set the fire to clear the corruption, and now like Jackie, unable to live in this situation any longer, he’s decided to die himself. I’d not be surprised to find him in s3e1 that way)

Jackie was a frustrating, difficult person. Because no matter how things went she just COULDN’T let go of the fact that she was trying to fit a mold that just didn’t suit her. She was raised with super high expectations, when she was really just kind of mid. And that’s fine, honestly, most people ARE mid, that’s why it’s mid. But she refused to see that those around her were shedding their social pressures, were adapting to the wilderness. They weren’t having a good time, they weren’t hunting and foraging because they were out there, camping for fun. Nobody wanted to be there. They were just trying not to complain about it, because they were all in the same boat.

Coach is similar. He simply won’t adapt. Refuses to. I mean this is a guy who’s STILL trying to live in the closet when there’s open lesbians making out in public around him. Who thinks of others as inherently monstrous when he himself, as a gay man, should know better. Because that’s what trying to fit your society-assigned role does to you.

It’s no accident that he and Jackie both spend a long time in the woods and neither of them can do something as basic as start a fucking campfire. Javi, a little kid, survived for MONTHS on his own in that cave. Coach couldn’t make it a day alone. Jackie couldn’t get through a night. They both rely so heavily on the team without ever once recognising it. Because SOMEONE was keeping the fires going. They both just ... refused to engage.

And just like Jackie can’t see that they’re not having fun out there in the woods, on the knifes edge of survival, Coach can’t see that they’re not having fun when they are so desperate they feel it’s warranted to sacrifice one of their own. He always thought of them as monsters, and he just sees what he expects to: a bunch of stupid useless teenage girls, finally doing what he always expected they would.

At any point... At ANY point he could’ve come in from the cold. He could’ve just accepted reality as they have. He could’ve taken some meat and accepted the price, as they have, joined them in their GRIEF about it, shared their humanity, and survived. Just as Jackie could’ve come in from the cold, and become part of the whole. But instead, they sit in the cold, consumed by their bitter hate, and decide that no, it’s everyone ELSE who’s wrong.

And who emerges from the burning cabin? A bunch of scared kids. Shauna, the FIRST cannibal, who saves Jackie’s prom dress before anything else. Travis, who grabs Javi’s wolf. Nat who grabs the ammunition - that they NEVER use on each other - because if they lost that they’d get SERIOUSLY desperate. And they protect each other, they make sure everyone makes it out. These supposed monsters who are so far gone they don’t even care about eating each other go out of their way to save each other, not just themselves.

Because Coach is wrong. Just like Jackie was wrong. Just like WE were wrong, in s1e1. Which brings me to my actual point.

This question is asked so many times in S1 it’s almost a mantra. And the ‘jackets’ oath of silence really builds up that it must’ve been something REALLY bad, right? But S2E9 has really made me recognise that fundamentally... Act 1 Scene 1 is entirely what everyone who asks this question is expecting.

Imagine they DID know what really happened out there. With that bloodthirsty fucking look in their eyes...

They’re not looking for an answer. They’re looking for a story. For an exciting spooky nightmare they didn’t take part in, so they can get a shiver and a thrill they didn’t earn.

They’re not looking for a love story. They’re not looking to hear how HARD these scared, tragic, broken people fought to hold onto their morals and their humanity and their sanity even against their own survival. They’re not interested in Shauna blinding herself just to try to stop her hands from shaking. They’re not looking to hear about Travis choking down the blood of his brother just to make sure that he can really FEEL it. So he can share the guilt, and never ever pretend like it’s Just Meat. The look in his eye when he can’t think of any good response to Van’s arguments that he needs to let Javi save him. What they want is...

They don’t want the context. And if the ‘jackets ever did try to tell anybody what actually DID happen out there, all they would see is ... Episode 1, Act 1, Scene 1. A bunch of monsters. Eating each other. Just like Jackie. Just like Coach. Just like we did, on first glance.

I’ve been saying this whole time that Yellowjackets is doing something really special. That it’s letting us see behind the curtain, that while everyone’s asking this big question, “what really happened?”, we’re the ones who get to know. Because it can’t be told. It can’t be spoken. It can only be seen. Experienced. I think that S2 has finally finished the first major arc in the teen timeline, that we now have the context to understand what comes next. And I do believe that it will get messy, it will devolve. Into fighting and screaming and battles. It’s tragic, but it looks like that’s the downward spiral, spiraling. As Travis and Nat deal with the guilt of what they did with Javi for each other. As Shauna and Nat butt heads and people pick sides. As Misty Mistys. As resources get even more desperate now their shelter is gone. As potentially new people (hikers? other cabin people?) get brought into conflict with them (I believe the cabin is a smoke signal, personally).

But don’t ever forget that we got here with love. Expect that the downward spiral will be lubricated with toxic, broken, codependant, self-destructive love as well. Watch them love each other to death... they’ve already begun.

[thegreatstoryteller]

The Great Shift: Reunion

The Great Shift is a well known event that had swapped over 90% of the world’s population! However, after the initial fallout and chaos, a few years later people began to acclimate to their lives. Though there were still moments where people were confronted with just how much they’ve changed.

“Ok Ned Nuno. No one is gonna remember you as Ned the know it all. It’s been years. People are mature and have their own lives.” Ned said to himself in the mirror. 

The young man looked back at his model like reflection. Sometimes he still couldn’t believe it was him. Only a few years ago he was looking at his own bespectacled face with his receding hairline. Sure he’s what some would call cute and charming. He always had a knack for intelligent conversation. After college he embraced his intelligence even more and had the luxury to travel as he got older... but he couldn’t deny that his former body wasn’t turning any heads romantically. They’d haver to notice the 5 foot tall waifish man for that to happen. 

But now... that was no longer the case. All those years ago he was traveling at an airport when the Great Shift happened. One moment he was departing his plane, the next he was in a boarding area waiting to be seated!

Needless to say it was a shock. He’d gone from a smaller and dark skinned to a clearly white and very in shape young man! He later found that this guy was named Connor Duval and was  just 21 years old at the time! Still in college too. And... well those first few days he certainly had a lot to learn about his new form. 

However he couldn’t reminisce any further. He needed to get ready for his school’s 10 year reunion. He wasn’t the same timid nerd that people would pick on. He was braver! He’d seen the world! And wasn’t afraid!

- One ride to the school later -

“Ok. I’m afraid! Jackie! Are you here yet? I know this is the 2nd message I left for you on your phone, but I don’t want to be the only one here I know! You were always my best friend and I’m sorry I’m so nervous and-” Ned was pacing nervously outside of the building he once learned at, waiting to go in with his friend.

“Easy there poindexter. Your bestie is back.” A deep voice says spooking  Ned as he jumps.

“J-Jackie?” Ned asks nervously seeing the towering muscular figure beside him.

“In the flesh. I though I told you that I shifted into that big Ukrainian construction worker? I mean all the better for it right? None of your old bullies ever messed with you when you butch lesbian bestie was at your side.” Jackie said with a flex.

“I know. I know. You were always so open and brave with yourself It’s honestly inspiring. I’m sorry i was so shocked. I’m just nervous and it’s been a long time since we’ve seen each other. I hope your girlfriend is taking it ok.” Ned offers sympathetically.

“Yeah she loves it. She swapped into this bi goddess of a woman and works out with me a lot. Good thing too! I’m still only attracted to women and I have the best one sucking me off every night!” Jackie bragged. Previously her normal crude humor always let out a laugh from Ned, but now Ned trembled a bit as Jackie sounded just like those macho straight guys that bullied him.

“Aren’t you a little under dressed without um... a shirt?” Ned asks.

“Ha! Well you know. I thought about going nude. But I did pack a polo so i can be decent. Aren’t you over dressed Ned?”

“What!? I  couldn’t decide what to wear! I just chose one of my body’s outfits that still fits...” Ned blushes in his nice suit. Sure he was a 6 foot tall model with abs, but his indecision in outfits was ever present.

“Neverminded that anymore. Let’s get in there! You’re a tenured professor for Pete’s sake. And I’m a well known LGBT author. We got a lot to talk about.”

Jackie pulled Ned in with his surprising strength and they began to hear the music and mingling. Inside they were given name tags and soon saw the crowds of people that none of them recognized! One of the perks of the shift was that no one was ever mad when they didn’t recognize one another. In this case though Jackie and Ned’s eyes zeroed in on a few key people.

Stacy Skarsgaard was always known as the head cheerleader and total B. Her platinum blond hair and perky breasts getting her through life and landing her a cushy secretary job somewhere in the city, from what Jackie had heard. Now once again, as she was so many other times, she was blasted drunk and taking her top off. Only this time it revealed a powerful dark skinned chest with curly black hairs. Her perfectly shaved face saying, “And like. I”m already on my 4th husband and he totally worships me. Takes care of the kids and still tops me like a champ. Like. I totally see why gay guys do it all the time. I can’t stop. Any more martinis?”

Jackie snorts. “Where was that open mindedness when she tried to get student council to take down the LGBT Support Club? Freaking hypocrite. Their eyes then drifted to three men chest bumping and laughing.

“Are those guys Chad, Thad, and Grad?” Ned asks surprised. “Weren’t they... like the biggest guys on the football team?” Ned recalled the days when those beefy fat bodies would pound through the halls and shove him against lockers.

“Oh yeah. I heard they were working as assistant coaches at some college and ended up swapping with their respective school’s freshman swim team. They... certainly lost a lot of that freshmen 15 that we saw them with in university.” Jackie laughed admiring how they both towered over their former bullies, though Ned once again felt insecure about how much their abs looked better than his. Those three guys kept messing around but in different ways. Instead of belching and arm wrestling they were doing some handstands and showing how flexible they were. 

“Ok. Ned. Stop sulking and start catching up. You wanted to prove to yourself you could stand up to your past. Now is your chance. Next person to walk through that door is gonna be a new person you have to say Hi to ok?” Jackie commanded.

Ned gulped and looked at the door nervously and was in awe of who stepped in.

“Paul Bailey?” Ned said astonished. He’d recognize that familiar leather jacket anywhere.... he could still smell it as the closeted athlete wrapped his arms around him all those years ago under the bleachers after a big game. Neither have them had mentioned the night since, but that hadn’t stopped Ned from cherishing that memory.... as well as stalking him occasionally on social media seeing who he swapped with. 

Ned hadn’t realized he’d been staring that long as Paul immediately saw him and walked over. “Holy... Ned? Is that you. Wow you sure changed.” The man joked. His voice was different... but still so deep and smooth Ned nearly swooned.

“H-hey Paul. Guess we all have since the switch. You’re um... looking good.” Ned admitted, blushing. He missed his previous heritage that made these embarrassing actions less noticeable with his former darker skin. 

“Thanks. I guess I traded in my older pasty body for a new more bronze kind. I wasn’t expecting to swap with an Asian bodybuilder, but hey I was at the airport. Right or wrong place depending who you ask for the shift.” 

“Really? I was at the airport too when I shifted. It was kinda funny. I’d been traveling a lot since I got tenure as a professor, but the first thing I did when I shifted was trip. I guess no amount of travelling prepares you for suddenly having size 14 feet.” Ned laughs.

“Really? They do look big... dang. Those are like twice the size of your old ones.” Paul laughs too!

“Y-you remembered me that well?” The nerd felt touched.

“Of course,” Paul replied as it was his turn to blush. “Though hey! I got you beat with these size 17 wide feet. With these heavy muscle I nearly took out an entire cart of luggage.”

The two continued to laugh, comparing bodies, stories, and catching up. Jackie suddenly took her leave to be ogled by all of the female attendants.

Ned and Paul were having a great time walking around, having fun, and enjoying each other’s company.

Ned didn’t know that their bodies had met previously. That Connor was on the way to visit his boyfriend at the time... that miles away their original bodies were holding hands and laughing too... Ned couldn’t know that Paul had also been secretly keeping up with Ned after feeling bad about kissing and never calling...

But there are some things a know it all doesn’t know. Maybe it’ll be fun for him to start learning again. This time with someone both old/new.

[fuckyeahisawthat]

the f’ing white outfit

I don’t think I can possibly pick a favorite costume from OFMD, but when it comes to visual storytelling, I deeply love the white outfit. That stupid fucking white fit gets to blaze through so many layers of joke/symbolism/subtext in its brief one (1) episode lifespan.

It starts out as a sight gag. We see this rough, grubby environment where people are vomiting blood and getting in fights in the mud and then we see Stede and Lucius step off the ship in these pristine white outfits. (Stede has even dressed his hostage to match!) And you’re just waiting for the payoff. Which we get immediately with Lucius getting some dude’s bloody hands smeared all over his jacket, which is funny and also a sort of visual foreshadowing of what will happen to Stede at the end of the episode, although we don’t know it yet.

So at first the white outfit is a joke waiting to happen. It’s a symbol of how out of touch with the rules of the pirate world Stede is, insulated as he has been by his privilege (both his wealth and his literal whiteness). And they keep the gag going by having two people in white outfits that Stede chose, and having Stede repeatedly dodge the payoff. Lucius gets the bloody handprints on his jacket; Lucius is the one who gets splattered with what we think is wine but find out is blood, again (foreshadowing #2).

So there’s this running joke of Stede being able to sidestep the negative consequences of a bad decision, at least for himself. And this continues with Stede being (delightfully) rude to Izzy, out of obliviousness. And not only does Stede not get immediately stabbed for it, but Geraldo overhearing this conversation is what gets Stede out of his involuntary nose job with Jackie! And all of this serves to make the payoff of Stede very much not being able to avoid the consequences of his naivete at the end of the episode work even better.

Stede sashaying through the Republic of Pirates in his white suit is ridiculous, but you can see the logic of a lot of his choices once you realize that he is treating this like a rich people social gathering. He says “it’s time for the wider criminal community to meet the Gentleman Pirate”--in his mind, this is his formal introduction to pirate society. He’s making his regional debut--not in a theater way (although yes) but in a societal-norms-of-rich-people way. 

And the way Lucius formally announces him from the top of the stairs in Spanish Jackie’s? He’s a debutante. The white suit is his fit for his own self-produced debutante ball.

You know, the social ritual where wealthy young women are introduced to society as being available to be courted. An event also referred to, in an old-fashioned use of the term, as coming out.

And lo and behold, he does receive a formal invitation to meet a potential suitor that night! An invitation that Ed specifically sent Izzy to deliver because he wanted it “done right,” in a way this fancy man would understand. (Great work there, Izzy!)

And then, once they are captured by the Spanish Navy, the white outfit shifts again. As David Jenkins said, the clown gets stabbed. And not just comedy-stabbed, he gets stabbed stabbed. Visually, this is the payoff that was set up all the way back when Stede stepped off the ship--that spotless white outfit getting fucked up, and this time it’s not just blood but his own blood. Consequences!

But also, given the symbolism of red on this show, you can read this as Stede’s heart showing through. He wore something that would show his heart most clearly, and Ed saw it right from the beginning. And I think this fits with how Ed immediately sees Stede not as a naive, bumbling idiot, but as someone who’s clever and interesting and brave.

And then we have Ed and Stede meeting face to face, Ed in all black and Stede in all white, and in this context it’s impossible not to think of the white outfit as a wedding dress. (Especially if you imagine Ed carrying a passed-out, mostly-dead Stede over the threshold into the captain’s cabin on the Revenge, which is a scene we didn’t see but absolutely, 100% happened.)

And I think there’s a connection to the other time Stede gets almost-executed by an imperialist navy, which is episode 9, which also has a lot of wedding imagery. (The signing of a contract together, the way Badminton looks like an officiant standing over them during the trial, the bright white and weirdly visually prominent blindfold that Ed lifts off Stede’s face like a wedding veil.)

I think the connection is that both of these moments are important turning points in Ed and Stede’s relationship. The first is their meet-cute and the second is the moment Ed realizes he is willing to give up everything for Stede. And I think it’s a cool subtle way of saying love at first sight. Even if the characters didn’t know it yet.

[looby1302]

Part 4 of guilty conscience

Hope you all enjoy.

Smut and angst warning.

This is Jackies POV

As she hung up on Cole, tears formed in Her eyes, not only was she in shock with the words that he had began to mutter. She was also homesick. she felt like she just found her new family, only to leave them without warning. she may have not liked Colorado when she first arrived, however, this countrified little town she grew to love. This family had accepted her, as she is, no questions asked.

George and Catherine’s presence, The Brothers bickering, Parkers ball hitting the house, even the dogs bark. She missed it all. The thought of Alex, not knowing what happened, why she left, and why she wasn’t answering haunted her. She needed to call and explain herself. but she would give Herself tonight, to try and find the right words. To tell this boy that she had began to grow attached to that he wasn’t the one that she truthfully desired.

She fell into a light slumber, awakening all through the night by the sound of traffic, people, arguing, music in the distance. The morning came around quickly as sleep eluded her. She entered in the living room she glanced suspiciously at Danny pacing the room, getting ready for Juilliard. “ you will be great today I have no doubt”. He looked at her, with relief. like that’s exactly what he needed to hear. “ thanks Jackie, I hope you have a great day at your internship as well, I’ll see you tonight.” With that Danny left making his way to the front door. The apartment was quiet, uncle Richard Had left for business in the early hours. He would be back tomorrow morning.

She got her bag ready, fixed Her hair, chose the right outfit, and yet she still had an hour to spare. She decided to have that dreaded phone call. the One she had been avoiding. She unlocks her phone, scrolls through the contacts until she sees the name, Alex, Walter and she hits the call button. Her heart starts beating uncontrollably.

He answers on the fifth ring. Frantically he starts talking “ hey what’s up? where are you? Why haven’t I heard from you? Are you ok?”. Jackie takes a deep breath. “ hey Alex, I’m so sorry that I left without saying goodbye, I’ve got the internship. I found out in the morning and they needed me right away. I didn’t mean to hurt anyone, I just thought that would be better for me, just to leave, I’m in New York with Danny”.

Alex continued talking, he couldn’t quite fathom the reason why she didn’t wake anyone. Why she couldn’t say goodbye to her boyfriend. why she just upped and left. he barely let her speak. With that, she cut him off. “ look Alex, I know that you’re going to camp today and obviously I’m in New York to do my internship, I think we should hit the pause button on us, I’m sorry, it’s just not working.”. She said sympathetically.. “ what do you mean pause button on us? we were together. I told you I loved you, you said nothing back, I wake up to find you gone, the teapot the one that Parker broke in your bedroom all fixed. I don’t buy it. I know that this is something to do with Cole. what did he do?”.

She takes deep breath, obviously she’s not going to confess everything that happened. That would cause more hostility in the house. “ Cole hasn’t done anything, he gave me the teapot, as a thank you, for helping him get back on the right path, he also knew how much it meant to me, I’m sorry I’m doing this over the phone but I’ll see you when your back from camp and maybe we can talk about it then”. with that Alex replied “sure”. He hung up on her.

Jackie felt a huge relief, maybe not About the cheating part. But in general she had put a stop to the relationship at least for now. She had only just got over the hottest make out session of her life.

Jackie had made it to her internship, she had began doing office work and organising which is something she love to do. She had no complaints, as she finally took her lunch break. She could see, this farmer looking Young man staring at her through the window. She started to think that she was going crazy. there’s no way that Cole walter is in New York. as he gets closer and closer. she still can’t believe her eyes.

As he enters and uses those famous words. “ Hey New York” she quivers. Not thinking, instinctively she rises from her chair. heads over to him. She forcefully grabs him by the neck and presses her lips against his. The kiss intensifies as he pulls her in closer and her legs start to buckle at the sensation.

The bag strap falls from his shoulder. hits the ground with a massive thud. She suddenly snaps back into reality and steps backwards. “Jackie, you’ll be the death of me” He mutters breathlessly, his eyes still fixed on hers. After finally getting her breath back. “ I can’t believe I just did that, what are you doing here?”. He smiles at her. “ I came here for you“.

She can hear voices in the distance growing closer and closer she chooses to step back again to create some more distance. “ Miss Howard, Louise has asked me if you could have those numbers done by tonight at the latest please”. This raven haired, businesswoman asks “ sure, no problem” Jackie replies. as the woman turns and walks away. Jackie turns to Cole. “ we will talk tonight, do you have anywhere to stay? or do you wanna stay at Uncle Richards?”.

As she holds her posture. “ I didn’t really think that far ahead, would it be okay if I stay at Richards?” he says, not, even blinking once, eyes transfixed on her. “ of course. I’ve got to get back to work but I’ll text you the address. Nobody should be there at the moment, Richard is on business, Danny is at Juilliard, so let yourself in, please make yourself at home”. She says handing him a key from her bag.

Cole leans down and picks up his bag “sure New York, thanks”. He heads towards the door, Of course not without giving her one last look up and down. she starts to feel Fire burning throughout her whole body, watching him leave through the window.

Jackie hurries to Richard’s apartment once she has finished her work and told she can leave. She enters the front door and heads inside looking for Cole. She finds him in the living room sat on the couch watching football waiting for her, When he finally spots her “hey we need to talk”. He says gulping at her beauty, she heads toward him, she drops her bag off of her back mid stride as it hits the floor. She places one leg over his waist and begins to straddle him.

He’s taken back a bit, this is not what he was expecting at all. He looks up into her eyes as she hovers above him. They are blown wide, pupils dilated. This time it’s his turn. He grabs the back of her head pulling her down. Lips crashing, hands moving all over each other, Moans and grunts escaping uncontrollably. His hand is lowering as her dress is rising up. She knows she wants him more than anything. They both stop dead where they hear a cough emerge from the other end of the living room, they both turn to see Danny stood there with a horrifying look on his face.

PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU LIKE THIS!

Once again I am not much of a writer but hope you all enjoyed.

[theviridianbunny]

˚₊‧꒰ა 💖💖💖໒꒱ ‧₊˚

Super hyped to have been able to test and provide shots for @chessalein's new Jackie wardrobe mod - which focuses on providing casual shirts / cosy outfits for Jackie - the mod has many options for every mood and occasion (the mod is coming soon!!!) I chose the photo Jackie in three of the many colour options: lilac - black/gold - camo (shirtless variation eheeheheh ~) (˵ •̀ ᴗ - ˵ ) ✧ I feel like every outfit in the wardrobe gives off it's own unique vibe~ I felt like the Lilac/pastel shirts gave of a sweet 50's/60's vibe (so I dressed my best girl Viridian in similar style clothing and inculuded her in one of my shots :3 ) - The black/gold variation gave me like- super chilled vibes- the kinda thing Jackie might wear on days he just wants to be casual-cosy- and JHDSHJDJH THE SHIRTLESS VARIATIONS HAD ME LOOKING RESPECTFULLY- The camo version just had me like *EYES EMOJI -* and then when I posed him I was like *EYES EMOJI TIMES TWO* but aagh yes simping and explaining aside--- Thank you for letting me test your mod and create some shots for you chessa- I had a lot of fun photographing our best man - this mod is everything to me eeek !! (≧ヮ≦) 💕

[streetkid-named-desire]

alright here is a wip cause this database shit is HARD i see why it took @elenaril multiple days

Slide: Bio -One half-body feature photo (mercrunner outfit), well lit, transparent -Vincent Guerra comes from a long line of Sephardic Jews. His family escaped the Spanish Inquisition in Spain and fled to Mexico in the 1600s. Nobody expected the Spanish Inquisition to come to Mexico. Local vintners gave them work at a winery that produced sacramental wine where they learned about distilling alcohol. Eventually, they settled in Guerrero, Mexico and established Guerra Mezcal. The distillery burned down in the 2040s and his grandparents and his mother moved to Southern California, where his mother met his father.

He was born on Valentine's Day in 2052. His mother adored him and his father loathed him. In 2053, his father moved them to Night City in the hopes of building them a better life., eventually settling down in a megabuilding in Heywood that would be his home for the next 12 years. During his Bar Mitzvah on February 14th, 2065 as he was reading his Torah portion to a nearly empty synagogue, his father murdered his mother and then himself in their home. V refused to go with the social worker to a group home and chose to become one of the many orphan sons of Heywood.

He had a natural aptitude for netrunning and admired Spider Murphy. At age 16, he and Jackie met when V returned to Night City, after unknowingly throwing in with a Raffen clan out of Arizona when he ran from Netwatch during a ransomware scheme. From there he slowly and thanklessly worked his way up the merc ladder until a funny little parasite flipped his world upside down.

Slide: Distinguishing Features -Scars, tattoos, cyberware, hair

Slide: Cyberware -Gorilla Arms, Skinweave, Fortified Joints, Second Heart, Internal Cyberdeck, Kiroshis

Slide: Weapons -Dying Night, Overwatch -Favored Quickhacks: Contagion, Short Circuit, Overheat, Cyberware Malfunction V can take most enemies down before you can say "I'm in." He prefers silenced weapons and stealth to support his netrunning. He is not known for well-thought plans and while he doesn't go guns blazing, he does go deck open.

Slide: Locations -Glen Loft -Lizzies -Afterlife -Rebbe's Reds & Relishes

Slide: Canon Divergence/Post Canon - AU -Outline major quest decisions/relationships, explain Johnny and chip stuff

Slide: Contacts -Dating Life: Rat > Panam > Kerry > Bea; sex addiction -Friends: Rat, Kerry, Viktor, Misty, Jackie -Family: Artie & Greta Merari, Mama Welles, Padre

[chessalein]

My fellow Jackie fans and Lovers! Excyting mod updates!

I'm just so excited that I wanted to share it with you all! Exciting news #1

Very soon I will share the "Jackie's colorful wardrobe" mod with you. For the first round its the Corset-shirt-valentino-chaps outfit. You will get to chose from a few recolored shirt which you can combine with a few recolored pants~ Or you only change the pants, or only change the shirt color! Its all up to you. Right now it gets tested and I let the people go wild with pictures, that we hopefuly get to see here on tumblr :) It was a lot of work for this little noob so I'm very happy and excited to release it soon!

Little sneek peek!

I really hope you will find at least one set of clothing you like.

Exciting news #2

I finally kind of understood how the change a characters appearance. I mean like giving Jackie a shirt that isn't default like made for him. That means I will nock myself out with it to give him all kind of outfits and of course I will share them with you :) Sadly my MA to MB refits don't really work yet, but I think its only a small thing that is a bit angry there. We will figure it out somehow.

Here is a little sneek peek of a shirt I put on our sunny merc. Its the mb_Lumberjack.

[residentroam]

The fandom calls the horned figure the Antler Queen but such name doesn't exist inside the show, as far as I know. It's either Queen or Leader. The costume designer called the outfit Oracle, if I remember correctly.

Anyways. Lottie was thrust in that position position by Misty (and Mari) without wanting it, she chose Natalie (because "it" doesn't exist, it's just them kids, thank you Shauna) and Nat is happy about this - I don't know why -. There's also the detail that Shauna wants or wanted to be Leader. Why do these teenagers want this position, I wonder? Is it because they think they can actually do something good with it and keep the group alive? Or do they just want the others to do as they say? Was Natalie's expression of happiness genuine when she was appointed Leader and everyone bowed and offered her courtesies? Because after the horrendous events that just happened (because some didn't want to eat Lottie and Travis and Javi wanted to keep Natalie safe) I don't see how being looked up to by these lost and traumatized bunch is any consolation... Is there something I'm missing? Something I'm not seeing? And why does Shauna want the position of Leader? If she wants it because she's been constantly overshadowed by others (Jackie) and now she wants the spotlight, I get it I guess. But still, I don't see how anyone would be happy being Leader of this group. Why would anyone want to be?

After the revelation of Natalie Taissa's line in season 1 about how none of them would be alive if it wasn't for Natalie makes even more sense. Natalie wasn't just the hunter that brought them food in the wilderness, Travis did the same and the adult survivors aren't thanking him. But Natalie was also their first Leader.

Do I believe there's more than one "Antler Queen"? No, for now. It's been Lottie's mystical delirium, materialized with the appointment of Natalie - who is now dead - and there's the question of if Shauna still wants the title. I can believe teen Shauna wants it, but I don't see adult Shauna wanting it tbh.

And why the fuck is Lottie so obsessed with Shauna's children?! First it was the baby boy that couldn't make it. Now she's talking of how powerful Callie is?? I used to have a soft spot for Lottie. But after episode 8 I'm having trouble feeling bad for her. And I don't like to feel this way because Lottie is (or was, I don't know anymore) a good person at heart and is just as broken as everyone else. Yellowjackets has no bad guy, no main villain (although trauma very well could be the villain of this show), but I'm having trouble not blaming Lottie for a lot of things, and Misty, including Natalie's death. Misty executed Natalie, ironically, trying to save her from being shot by Lisa. But Lottie, who is the person I assume Lisa was trying to help, could have stopped Lisa from shooting. Why didn't Lottie stop Lisa? Lisa listens to her. Part of me thinks Lottie did nothing because she just wanted someone to die. They were going to kill Shauna just because, or Lisa would kill someone with the gun. Either way Lottie wanted someone to die. She would also drink the poison herself if she had to. I know there's people who hate the action of sending Lottie to a mental institution. But what else can be done with her? After episode 8 I get the impression she is too far gone in this wilderness delirium. She is a danger to others and to herself. For a moment I thought that Van would come up with the idea of killing Lottie as in an act of mercy or something when she didn't agree with Taissa about calling the Psychiatric squad. But apparently that wasn't the case.

I hope Misty goes to jail next season for Natalie's murder. But I'm guessing Walter won't let that happen. He's been a real one for Misty and I actually like that Misty has someone who, so far, actually likes her for her. She isn't gonna find that anywhere else. I know Misty didn't kill Natalie on purpose, she wanted to help and as always whenever Misty tries to help she ends up making things worse. But Natalie didn't deserve this and I'm being bias because I love Natalie... Damn, it's gonna be so hard to look at Sophie Thatcher from here on out till the show's end.

I know how fucked up it is for an adult to set a cabin full of teenagers on fire. This show is just full to the rim of fucked up shit. But still I can see why Coach did it. He has no control whatsoever over these teenagers, the teens decide to eat each other to survive, the teens let their own die so the rest can eat, the teens do all the crazy stuff but also the teens are the ones who get the slight minimum of food to keep surviving. What is Coach doing? Hallucinating his boyfriend, or ex-boyfriend, and being terrorized at the kids being ok about eating human meat to survive. Maybe he blames himself for having taught them to hunt and bleeding animals to eat? I don't know. I have the feeling season 3 could be Coach Ben's last. Now that there's no shelter maybe Natalie will tell everyone of the place Coach wanted to take her to survive the winter (I thought it was such a dick move to offer just Natalie to go with him, but again I can see why he did that then), they find Coach doing well in the cave and get mad at him for not taking everyone there, then they end up killing and eating him. I also could believe Coach Ben will be the first intentional kill of the Yellowjackets.

There's so much to unpack in this season finale. But one last thing I want to mention. Well, two last things:

I love, love Sophie Thatcher and Juliette Lewis performances as Natalie Scatorccio. Seeing them together in the plane scene got me. I just want Nat to be at peace. I'm greatly missing Juliette Lewis on the show.

The begenning of the episode with Zombie by The Cranberries (a song I listened to frequently in my early teenage years) was incredible. The scene was too powerful. Natalie going ahead on her own to be greeted by Travis at the cabin. The girls carring Javi's body like dead pray back to eat. I was in pain for Nat, Travis, and Javi. A truly heartbreaking episode from start to finish.

[fictionalreads]

Love is Blind Season 4 Episode 4

Zack and Irina

This is awkward. He looks like “fuck I chose wrong” as soon as those doors opened.

This is weird af. They ain’t lasting though the vacation. I’m calling it mnow.

CRINGE I need to fast forward

I am already over them.

They’re so cringe together.

Get the coffee away from Ralphie.

No I’m with her for once. Stop singing. You doing the most.

This pairing is not it. I’m tired of seeing them.

The tatas are out and in danger of flashing someone. I feel like that’s disrespectful. Not the outfit itself but the size of it. She could’ve secured the girls a bit more out of respect for her fiancé and her friends and their fiancés.

That sounds like I’m saying she needs to cover up cause guys can’t control themselves and I’m not. Wear what you want. I’m just saying it felt like she wanted to put on a show for the other people there. If it felt like she was doing it for herself that’s one thing but to put on a show for others when you’re supposed to be committed to someone, is rude to me.

Why is she so into Paul. That’s your bestie’s man. That would be a red flag to me if I was Micah.

If his touch makes you feel gross, end it. Don’t drag him along.

Paul and Micah

She’s just so condescending to me.

Weird.

LMAO I think those are petals not feathers

….brewing potions? LMAO

Kwame and Chelsea

They’re definitely sleeping together the first night.

LOL So in other words you wouldn’t have found her attractive if you met her on the street

An honest conversation. A lot of things you haven’t faced yet cause you’ve been in this bubble. If he had said nothing I wouldn’t have believed him.

I’m glad he brought up him talking to Micah before he went and did it. There’s curiosity there

Chelsea seems fun.

Marshall and Jackie

I can see Marshall not being her type physically.

Where is this coming from?

Damn Marshall I would’ve have guess that was underneath those shirts.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen any of them go beyond the resorts before. Like into town.

What happened with them? They were just good!

Girl what is going on? I’m so confused.

Weird thing to focus on right now but didn’t she just have a green bottle? Where did this blue bottle come from?

Not gonna lie, I feel like I could cry like that at the end of vacations when I realize I gotta go back to work and shit. This is not to make light of what she’s feeling, I’m just saying I get it.

Awe. What a moment. He stayed outside the door waiting for her and then she let him in and he immediately got up and went to her. Are my standards so low that that got to me?

LMAO Jackie being comfortable enough to say ge was fine in front of Marshall.

Brett and Tiffany

I am Tiffany. Tiffany is me. Cause I would’ve been out too.

He got her a bathing suit? How did he get the right size? Did he just tell producers “hey I want to choose a bathing suit can you get the right size?”

Damn he really into her ass. Grabbing it all on camera. I see you boi

….they haven’t?! Could’ve fooled me.

Miscellaneous

God that water looks beautiful.

Does anybody know the song playing at 31:28? The one that’s like “the rains taking a day off?” It sounds like a good song but I can’t find it so if you know the artist or sing please put me on.

It feels like Micah is still flirting with Kwame. Why is she talking about she could’ve chosen him? I’m glad he’s like “we ended up with our right people”

I do see what she’s saying about Chelsea though. I thought she was bitchy at first but then I saw more of her.

LMAO DAAAAMN IRINA TRIED TO BE BITCHY AND IMITATE CHELSEA AND KWAME WAS NOT HAVING IT

Oh. My. God. Irina and Micah are so bitchy.

That was fucked up Micah. Even Brett had a look like “damn that was over the line” I mean I could see if y’all were friends and it had been years since the “breakup” but it’s been a week at most. Chill.

Why is she still all over him? And why is he still talking to her? (Kwame and Micah I mean)

[silver-rings-and-rabbits]

Open Heart Second Year, chapter 12

It’s too soon. I’ve always thought the jump from attack to memorial was too quick. There was still so many characters we didn’t see during chapter 11 (Naveen, Harper, Zaid, Ines, Esme) and we needed a chapter just to absorb everything that happened.

My personal hc was that Raf could go home as long as he had someone looking after him. He had Juliana, but MC’s roommates would all be working long hours so he ended up staying in hospital a bit longer.

I know in reality PB couldn’t be bothered to rewrite this small detail.

Juliana ❤️ I miss my grandma…

One of Ethan’s diamond scenes prompts you to help him fix a relationship, and if you’re romancing him, it suggests you can restart your own. Rafael gets a similar prompt for his chapter 12 scene but the prompt to rekindle an old flame appears whether you’re romancing him or not.

Just another dialogue point that doesn’t change and therefore doesn’t make sense, or at least sounds weird on his path. For example:

(That’s an interesting way to describe a break-up). It makes sense on his romance path…but why would a friendly MC grow apart from him? On my Ethan playthrough I believed my MC was really happy for Raf and Sora and invited them both out when the group met up. There’s certain dialogues I now won’t take for Raf’s platonic route to avoid these, but it’s pretty rubbish if it wasn’t intended to be romantic. At least PB had the foresight to change the dialogue during the kissing scene.

So are you ❤️ (he’s right though)

Matthew, you’re going to a funeral. Stop looking hot.

“Just like that”. Astute observation, PB.

And the whole scene of the wake. Every single time, my mind replaces Danny and Bobby with Rafael and I wonder whether the memorial would have been very different or would it still feel rushed and uncaring? Only half the friend group were given funeral outfits for gods sake.

And PB did it again:

Not letting me visit my own love interest. And this was after the rewrites. Why couldn’t MC go back to Rafael?? I don’t even care that they wouldn’t have sex, they needed to spend time together. After a book full of two Ethan scenes per chapter, you suddenly can’t do that?? Bullshit.

And to think…we were a few days away from this being Rafael’s funeral.

(I chose Jackie, again because it made sense with her and Matthew living together, but the choices are either awkwardly navigating flirty dialogue or leaving her crying that it should have been her funeral.)

There’s mentions of Elijah really struggling through the service, something he’s been to too many of, and it’s never mentioned again. We don’t get to catch up with Bryce at all unless we choose him at the end. And Jackie will tell you about how much she hates the person she sees in the mirror, only to never bring it up again.

On Ethan’s romance path, he gets extra dialogue at the beginning AND during the memorial.

My thoughts at this point:

This whole situation was handled so gracelessly. It doesn’t get the build-up it deserves, and the aftermath is treated like an obligation to get through. As I mentioned before, the character who actually gets all the emotion is the character who was never in danger (Ethan). But we don’t have the time or money to give everyone else the same, so rather than spreading their resources between the LIs, PB wrote dialogue in a weird halfway spot: awkward if you’re not romancing them, not deep enough and now cheapened if you are romancing them.

And then we know MC goes back to the hospital before they’re ready and absolutely nothing comes from it.

The characters faced something deeply traumatic that would have killed them, but the funeral is then rushed, characters aren’t looked after, and then before you can say ‘free healthcare’ we’re back at the diagnostics team like nothing happened because apparently nothing is more important than Ethan and MC.

Mature and emotional storyline my ass. The attack was put in to knock off a LI for shock value and nothing more.

[einsteinsugly]

January 1, 1992. The Birthday Girl.

"Look at the birthday girl!"

The Forman dining room is decorated with silver streamers and cat balloons, as Kitty waves and coos, to capture a tiny tot's fleeting attention. Her youngest grandbaby, wearing a birthday hat and proudly holding a kazoo, is turning two.

In turn, the tiny redhead laser focuses on the disposable camera, flashing a brief smile to her Ani. But once again, true to form, she is easily distracted by the cake her Pop just hauled in. With two whole birthday candles, proudly perched on top.

The cake is homemade, courtesy of her Ani's kitchen, made with love. It's snickerdoodle flavored, with a plethora of cats dancing from top to bottom.

Thrilled by Leah's temporary fixation, if only for a mere second, Kitty glances at her choice of party wear. Instead of choosing a lovely floral dress with lots of flounce, with adorable little Mary Janes, Leah has chosen leggings, a floral tunic, a baggy sweater, and sneakers.

Thus, motioning to Jackie, Kitty sighs, and softens her tone to a mere whisper. "It would be nice if she liked the dress I chose for her."

Jackie nods in agreement, but Leah hears and sees it all, and firmly shakes her head in complete and utter defiance. "No. No fluffy."

"I swear, that girl hears everything." Kitty slightly raises her voice, as Eric and Donna enter the room, utensils and camera in hand. "She reminds me of..."

Eric senses the name on the tip of his mother's tongue, the sister who must not be named, so he swiftly cuts her off. With an awkward little smile. "Yeah, she came running when I simply said the word cake."

Once again, Leah is bursting with excitement, playing her kazoo. "Cake!"

Donna chuckles, lovingly patting Eric's chest. Toying with the semi-professional camera draped around his neck, with a red and blue strap. "I think she loves cake more than you do."

"Hey, Lee." Like Peter Parker at the Daily Bugle, Eric's going places, motioning to his youngest daughter. But family shenanigans are still fun to capture and archive, with his Canon camera now firmly in hand. "Why don't you smile for the camera?"

"I'm cute." Leah does a little curtsy, as sassy can be, twirling around with relative ease. Click, click.

"I don't know why she chose your outfit." Jackie scoffs, as her best friend moans, "I guess she takes after you. I mean, you wore mom jeans before you even became a mom."

The eldest redhead is used to this banter, though, and she loudly groans in surface-level disapproval. "Uh huh."

"Tweed blazers are so 1987. And shoulder pads should've never been a trend..."

Hyde cuts off his wife, brandishing a small black lighter. "Think it's time to blow out the candles."

But Kitty firmly shakes her head, making a makeshift loudspeaker with her hands. "We have to sing happy birthday first, Steven."

The other kids hear the pointed cue, and so do Fez and Kelso, and they all come barreling in like a bunch of monkeys. Except James, who has been trying to convince Leah to play with a mountain of Duplos in the den for the past ten minutes.

James nervously yanks on her shirt, and Leah playfully blows the kazoo in his face. "After cake, can we play?"

"Yeah." Leah brushes him off, dutifully focusing on the cake. "I want cake."

Donna sighs, rattling off the itinerary. "We still have to open the presents, too."

"No dolls?" Leah inquires, as her mother dutifully nods.

"No dolls. I told everyone." Donna smirks, patting her husband's back, a remnant of childish camaraderie. "I'm pretty sure it includes your dolls too, Eric."

As per usual, Eric gets worked up, gesturing erratically. "Action figures!"

Donna smirks, accomplishing a very typical mission. "It never gets old."

*****

Other than Eric, and maybe Fez and Donna, the birthday song is notably off-tune. Particularly with Leah using a kazoo as a makeshift metronome.

Although the song subsides, Leah continues to play her kazoo, and Eric rolls his eyes. "Thanks for giving her a kazoo, Kelso."

Kelso is grinning from ear to ear, achieving a very simple master plan. "You're welcome."

After a few more seconds, Leah relinquishes the kazoo, refocusing on the cake. And on a certain string bean. "Daddy!"

Sounding distinctly like the sister that must not be named, Eric still lovingly races to her side. "You need help?"

"Nope." Leah huffs, puffs, and blows out the candles, before pointing to the seat next to her. "Sit."

Eric dutifully obeys. "Okay..."

"I love you, Daddy."

The crowd bursts into a chorus of awws, as Leah amply kisses her dad's waiting cheek.

But with the force of a softball pitcher, winding up like a windmill, Leah takes a giant glob of cake with her grubby hands. And in the blink of an eye, she smears it all over Eric's face.

"Good cake?" Leah licks her fingers, as Eric hurriedly wipes the glob off his face, sticking the tasty treat in his mouth. Before his mother can...

Click, click. "Yeah...that's a good cake."

[geocait0815]

Demons Grasp - Chapter 15

An hour later I am standing out front waiting for Jacky to arrive, when a gray minivan stops right in front of me. The doors open and Jacky gets out, followed by several men.

“What's with the surprised face?” she asks. “I guess I was not expecting the soccer mom brigade.” “Would you have preferred seven Harleys to pull up? Because this would not have drawn any attention at all.” Good point.

I regard the men standing in front of me. They all tower over me. Their outfits are a variation of jeans, combat boots and leather jackets. When one of them turns around to close up the car, I see no badges on the leather. But this is probably another precaution to avoid unwanted attention. One of the men chose a vest clearing the view of tattoos snaking over his impressive, muscular arms, covering every inch of his skin, even the hands.

“You must be MC” one of them addresses me. “I’m Beaker. Those are Curly, Hyde, Nitro, Gunner and Midas. Last time we saw you, you passed out and fell right into my arms.” He lets out a bellowing laugh. I shudder at the thought of last night, but force a smile on my face. “Hi. I really appreciate your help.” Back then and for what's to come. “Let's get inside and I’ll bring you up to speed.”

********

“So we believe that Jake is held at this facility. Unless they got out via another way that is not covered by CCTV.” I finish my recollection of our findings so far. We are seated on the couches and some extra chairs we pulled up. Max and Dylan have joined us.

“Do we know why they are keeping him alive?” Jacky asks. I shake my head. The sight of Jake being tied to that chair, slumped forward flashes through my mind again. “I can only speculate.”

Dylan now put a printout on the coffee table. “I was able to pull an original blueprint of the factory building. There might have been modifications over the years, but this is the best we’ve got at this point.” Everyone shifts forward to take a look at the plan. “There are two entries. Here. And here. The western door is closer to the street. In both cases there are hallways connecting smaller rooms and a set of staircases. Both hallways lead to the manufacturing hall. Upstairs are offices.”

“And we do not know what awaits us inside,” one of the men states. Hyde, I think. “Currently no.” Max. “But Flex was working on something.” He waves Flex over, who immediately gets up and comes up to us. “Yep?” “Any progress on the connection?” “The statistics we collected during the hack were a dead end. But I had a look at that phone you swiped. Judging from Canes timeline we established, he was connected to a wifi while in the vicinity of the paper factory. If we get close enough, I can crack it. If we are lucky, they have surveillance connected to the wifi. Once we have access to that, we will have eyes on the place.” “And you can do this without being detected?” Beaker asks. Flex scoffs. “You’re trying to insult me?”

“So we have to get there without being seen by CCTV in case they have access to it, too.” I ponder. “I will be taking care of that from here,” Dylan says.

Jacky frowns. “It would be good to have a distraction, cause some confusion, while we try to get in. To make sure they are not just cutting their losses, whatever those are, the moment they see us coming.“ “What do you have in mind?” I ask. She shakes her head. “That is your turf.”

“I’ve got some more intel” I hear Tess’ voice behind me. “I won’t go into all the details now, but Maya and I found a number of encrypted messages on Crane's phone. Their content suggests that those people are involved with a group stealing classified information and selling it to the highest bidder. We are talking not just about corporate data but also national security files and the likes.” 

An idea forms in my head. It brings back some painful memories. “What if we would record a video confronting them with all the information we have gathered. Once you broke into their network, would it be possible to disguise this as live stream sent from here?” Max looks at Flex, who just shrugs. “I don’t think this would be a problem.” “Great. So, while they are busy with that, probably trying to take it down, we make our move.”

“We?” Hyde growls. “You are not thinking about going inside with us, right?” “I am not going to just sit on my ass.” The thought terrifies me. Still, I have never been as certain about anything in my life as I am about this. “There is no way I’m going to let a civilian walk into the line of fire. You’ll just get yourself killed!” I glare at him, arms folded over my chest. Then, Jacky speaks up, surprising us all. “I am okay with it. You will stay with me. When I say run, you run. When I say down, you drop and keep down until I say otherwise. Understood?” “Yes.” Hyde opens his mouth to argue further, but Jacky shoots him down with a look that could freeze lava. “Understood?” Directed at him. “Your funeral.” He shrugs.

“So, about that video...” a child-like grin has formed on Flex’ face. “I have just the right thing for that.” I see Max roll his eyes and hear a sigh from Tess.

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[rosietrace]

I just adore the idea of Ellis wearing an outfit inspired by the Jackie Kennedy Pink suit! It literally fits her so much! The gentlemen who prefer blondes dress for Chizuko fits her so much as well! It made me immediately think of Ellis wearing the iconic pink Marylin Monroe dress now! anyways I adore the outfit choices you picked out! It randomly made me think of Ellis wearing one of Audrey Hepburn’s looks like the Roman Holiday look or even the Breakfast at Tiffany’s! Anyways stan Victoria “Mortica Addams” Shard

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSS ELLIS WEARING ONE OF AUBREY'S LOOKS FROM BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S!!

I definitely tried to look for outfits that were worn by actresses during the 1930s to 60s since that's where Victoria's idol aesthetic is(Since Lana Del Rey's aesthetic is often described as "vintage" or "old Hollywood")

Fun fact, actually: I was originally going to give Juvia the iconic pink outfit from the sitcom "I dream of Jeannie" from 1965, but after looking up some looks from Audrey Hepburn, I chose the regency styled dress from "War and peace" instead ^^

I know Carol also does a bit of fanservice, but I also believe she and Mayuu would want to be comfortable without wearing anything too revealing 🤔 So I chose Mary Tyler Moore from the Dick Van Dyke show and Elizabeth Montgomery from 'Bewitched'

I was watching the original Addams family sitcom since it took place in 1964. And when I saw Carolyn Jones and John Astin in their respective costumes? I knew I had to give Victoria and Aguri those kind of outfits.

The boys who weren't Aguri were a bit of a challenge, since most men in the 30s to 60s would mostly wear suits. Especially in sitcoms like Bewitched. So unfortunately I had to give them suits, but were similar to the patterning and sewing techniques in the 60s.

Another fun fact: I was planning to make Carol and/or Ellis wear a replica of Yvonne De Carlo's costume when she was playing Lily Munster in 'The Munsters'.

Sorry if this was a long ramble, but I really enjoyed looking up references for everyone, the girls in particular ^^

[k00283290]

Today I made the first of my intended eight paper dolls and one of her outfits.

This doll was inspired by the paper doll “Torchy’s Togs” by the first ever black American female cartoonist Jackie Ormes.

Ormes’ paper dolls were the first to feature a black person in a non derogatory way. “Torchys Togs” featured a much more high fashion and adult character than what I have chosen to depict.

• • •

I have instead chosen to go with a toddler doll as with each different time period I intend to show different life stages as well.

I started by researching under clothes worn during the era and making a sketch of my intended character.

• • •

I then made the first outfit for the doll, an iconic 1950s babydoll dress. I chose a rich purple for a bright, expensive impression.

• • •

I then cut the doll and dress out. I stuck the doll into my sketchbook with a paper stand so it stands out a bit. This will allow the clothes to be taken on and off the doll while it remains in the book.