#Magic circus hack

[artbyblastweave]

Regarding the semantic limitations of capeshit, is there a decent term for "superpowers exist but capes and costumes just isn't a thing for whatever reason" be it due to it never occurring in the first place or due to the status quo settling without capes and costumes and the whole hero vs villain duking it out thing? Like especially the it never occurring in the first place I find quite interesting, and is something I see often enough in media in which magic and spells are innate and the consequences of that power being unrestricted and unpredictable, but I don't think that is termed either afaik

I think that the TVtropes parlance for this is "Not Wearing Tights-" works with that label are often in conversation with or direct adaptations of traditional cape-and-costume superhero stories but with the aesthetic sanded down out of a combination of budget pragmatism and excessive self-awareness.

Unfortunately it's kind of a self-justifying trope in a lot of ways because the logistics of creating an effective traditional costume are genuinely batshit crazy on a lot of levels. Wild Cards is a setting where the idiom exists but fell off as a mass practice because there were very few would-be heroes with powersets and resources that made a typical superheroic presentation practical. Mutant City Blues is a TTRPG setting where, in the face of widespread mutation, would-be "traditional" heroes exist but are largely limited to the convention circuit for liability and practicality reasons and are viewed as unserious weirdos by those who tend to their business in plainclothes. Heroes is a universe where there are several characters who probably would costume up if the opportunity presented itself but shit's going down too fast and too constantly for that to ever become workable. Ex-Heroes is a setting where many of the powered vigilante heroes used to have costumes but they were almost universally really shitty hack-jobs produced on shoestring budgets, propped up aesthetically by the users put-up-or-shut-up ability to flip cars and fly, and, in the face of zombie apocalypse that defines the setting, eventually became just too much of a pain in the ass to repair and replace.

Mass adoption of costumes and code names is, unfortunately, something a setting actually has to do a lot of legwork to justify, and this has been true since at least Silver-age marvel, where, if you go back with a fine toothed comb, a surprising number of the characters are visibly coming to their heroism from a showbusiness perspective- Spider-Man the would-be wrestler, Daredevil the son of a prize fighter, Hawkeye the circus performer, Iron Man the unofficial corporate mascot, Wasp the fashion designer, Cap the USO propaganda object, this crops up a lot. Likewise, works like Worm and Abberant and The Boys burn a lot of narrative capital on the logistics of acquiring a costume that doesn't suck shit, and the proximity to power that a really high quality costume implies.

[grigori77]

Critical Role, Campaign 3 Episode 100 (Downfall Part Two!)

ACTUAL SAM ad nonsense, this time. Okay, then ... awwwwww ... this is actually really cute ... Liam: "You're the fakest person I know ... you don't have a genuine bone in your body ..." LOL Yeah, that's it, nice save. That was actually quite adorable, even if Liam WAS a little ... less than SWEET with his choice of words. I'm looking at YOU, O'Brien. (I am joking, of course, for those who DON'T get irony ...)

Oh yeah, in truth Sam really HASN'T lost his touch and it's great. Even though it's at Marisha's expense ... XD

"And there's a POCKET!" The way Laura said that was too good ... LOL

Yeah, I expected the stand-up from Matt this time ... hello again, Brennan ... and he's as geeky as ever. I love it ... "Everyone's laughing it up but I am DEADLY FUCKING SERIOUS, okay?"

Chamber of Secrets? Yeah, no ... Brennan: "HBO! No, no, I'm sorry!"

So, the first roll of the evening ... 30? Blimey ... off to a great start, definitely ...

Oh, she's a JOLLY little halfling, isn't she? Yeah ...

The Emissary: "You. Made. Her. Saaaaaaad ..."

What happened in Vasselheim? That didn't sound good ...

An object wrapped in cloth? Something new, seemingly hidden but not well? Oh, that's suspicious. Careful with that, Ayden ... a prayer to "the family that we used to be" ... hmmm ... oh ... that's interesting ... someone's prayed to the Dawnfather here? Recently?

Hallis? Who's that?

An ARCHMAGE?!!! Intriguing ... oh, so it was to the Everlight? also interesting ... so it IS a book of the gods ... a really really OLD one ... whoa, this is PRE-Age of Arcanum? Wow ...

Locate Magic? Or a tracking spell? Hmmmm ...

Umleta: "Is this part of the plan, or are you asking me for a favour?" Trist: "Yes."

Oh yeah, go Raven Mother about-to-die second sight ... aha, so is this kid still alive? Is this something that Emhira COULD fix?

So there's a hospital close? That must be it, then ...

Yeah, I was thinking this too ... if they win an ally in this, they could circumvent a lot of greif in this plan ... Trist's plan could definitely make things a liot easier for them ...

Ayden: "I'm having a difficult time, I like him but also quite despise him ..." Taliesin: "Welcomg to Thanksgiving!"

Disperse and split up, then ...

Sphere of Invisibility. Okay ...

Oh ... a tragic love story? And I was already so compelled about Asha ... also I'm definitely liking that she's bonding with the Emissary ...

The Emissary: "Her first forest ... for you ..." Asha: "That would be a better gift. How typical."

Yeah, she really is hungry ... EVERYTHING'S hungry, apparently ... hmmm ... O.O

Wait ... a SENTIENT lock? Weird ... oh, is it some kind of Aeormaton? Cool ... did it just FLIRT with SILAHA? Interesting ...

Chorus? Okay ... of boy, wow, SILAHA is definitely a little too into this particular facade, aren't they?

So it's some kind of bizarre Aeormaton speakeasy? Weird ... and it's a bit kinky too, apparently ... O.O

Umleta: "You are a clown." SILAHA: "Go join the circus, then."

Apparently SILAHA is having trouble letting go ...

That Aeormaton/elven lesbian engagement was incredibly romantic, ain't gonna deny ...

Oh yeah, 4X is fascinating already ... a stiff? Hmmm ... milk and honey? Sounds suspicious ...

Crap ... the imp is onto them ... Emhira: "Imp ... in my boobs ..." SILAHA: "Oh dear ..."

Slith ... hmmm ... I would already die for this adorable little letch ... clearly he likes Emhira VERY MUCH ...

Command? Oh, here we go ... Wisdom save of 19? Okay ... nice ...

A planetar? So definitely an angel, then ... and SILAHA already has them under his thumb ... oh ... for one round only ... crap ...

Roll Initiative? OF COURSE ...

Hold Monster? Nice ... good choice, Abubakar. Brennan saves ... Abubakar: "I'm gonna use a Lucky!" Of course you are. XD

Shadow Blade and Boots of Haste combo means Laura gets another action ... so Emhira hacks away! 29 DEFINITELY hits ... 12! OF COURSE this thing bleeds gold ... and she's a Warcaster? Wow ... second attack, then ...

SILAHA is going to LITERALLY bend the reality of the space around them to trap this guy ...

Wow ... so that LITERALLY just ended JUST LIKE THAT ... cool. Yeah ... OF COURSE nobody else REALLY saw that ...

Meanwhile the door LITERALLY SWALLOWED the angel ...

Oh yeah, those two demons WOULD just brick it, wouldn't they? Nice defuse, at least ... and that's a break then so Brennan can take a dump, I suppose ...

Over to Trist and Ayden, then ...

Somehow I doubt he really NEEDED to PRAY n order to melt that lock ... mostly he was just doing it to be an arsehole, I reckon ...

Emergency, yeah ... definitely the smart word in THIS environment ... 21 persuasion? Yeah ... not here? I kind of doubt that ... and it doesn't SEEM like it either ... another persuasion check? 25 this time ... Ashley's rolling HARD tonight ...

Archmage Previn? Okay, there we go then ...

Oh, this play is FANCY, yeah ...

Here he is, then ... poor kid's in a STATE, clearly ...

Graygill's Wasting? Sounds nasty ...

Aha! This would be Previn, then ... Cassida? Yeah, first names might be smart right now ...

The book? Oh, okay ... that's a risky move ...

Okay, yeah, figured she was a worshipper.

Oh yeah, get rid of that cranky git ... Milo: "It ever follows."

Trist uses Lay On Hands to remove his disease ... is this actually gonna work? Oh shit ... is she too broken for it to really succeed? Hmmm ...

That's right, Previn, you're in the presence of the Everlight herself ... so the kid's HEALED and now has 70 hit points ... wow ... O.O

Hallis: "I'm hungry ..." Yeah, you bet his mum just bursts into tears ...

Milo! You massive prick! Teach him a lesson, Ayden.

Channel Divinity? So Ayden's just on a healing tour, then ...

Well, that seems like a very ... humbling lesson ...

So ... Archmage Previn is DIRECTLY involved in this great undertaking of Aeor against the gods, then? So this is potentially a VERY helpful development, then ...

Wait ... is she trying to SABOTAGE this weapon?

The Society of Primes? Sounds helpful ... maybe they DO have some allies here, then ...

Oh dear ... yeah, this might NOT work out how they'd like after all, then ... oof ...

Back to Asha and the Emissary, then ...

A lone single tree ... at once beautiful and foreboding, really ...

One more hour of their Sphere of Invisibility ... so maybe just try a stealthy infiltration, then ...

"A gift of the Golden Scythe ..." Hmmmmm ...

Well now ... at least the little things know to honour their patrons ... but also I feel VERY SORRY for these poor tiny birds, this is a HORRIBLE place to be trapped in ...

Yeah, looks like being sneaky IS the smart move right now, then.

Oh, that's just SWEET ... see, nature isn't ALWAYS cruel ...

And now the tree's talking to her too ... O.O

Brennan: "It is not only humans that worship." Yes indeed ...

Holy fuck ... Asha just made the tree SPLIT THE WALL OPEN with its roots. That is a fucking FLEX right there ...

Asha takes a twig from the tree for later ... ALSO smart ...

The Emissary: "Bird ... she bares her teeth ... but I know what Mother sees in her."

Tishar cleaves the pipe open and starts burrowing into it ...

And now we're back to Emhira and SILAHA ...

So ... questioning the angel, then ... they followed their commander here? So ... this is NOT the rebel angel that came here to offer up secrets, then? Interesting ... but clearly they are still a moody shit ... hmmm ...

SILAHA's actually trying to SUCK THE ANGER right out of them? Interesting ... 9 on a Charisma check? Oof ... yeah, that's roundly rejected, then ...

Acastriel? Is that the traitor, then?

So that happened, the ... the angel just CUT ITS OWN HEAD OFF ... lovely ...

Oh dear ... yeah, so Garathran, the angel, is now FACE TO FACE with the ACTUAL Matron of Ravens on the other side ... yeah, they done fucked up after all ...

Yeah, they are SCARED now, clearly ... but she's being SO SWEET even when she's bracing them for information ...

Here we go, then ... the much needed infodump ...

A DRAGON?!!! Sweet fuck ...

The bottleneck and the breaking point indeed ... the information HASN'T gone out yet ... so they COULD just nip this in the bud right here ...

They just vanish in a puff ... and all the knowledge floods into her instead ... yup ...

It's all happening ALL AT ONCE!!! Yeah ...

And meanwhile Taliesin and Noshir have to roll Initiative ... CRAP!!! Oh, now he's getting EVERYBODY to do it instead ... okay then ...

So they burst out of the pipe into a chamber ... oh dear ... two massive constructs bar the way ... crap indeed ...

Yeah. Kill the Archmage, then ...

The Emissary charges their energy up and makes a dash for the mage. The closer construct swings and VERY MUCH misses as they pass ... attack as a BONUS ACTION?!!! Holy shit ... two big axes form one larger weapon and they CHUCK IT at the mage ... holy fuck this weapon cleaves CLEAN THROUGH the sudden shielf spell and cuts right into its target ... a rune that says "Denial"? No shit ... 11 damage, but with Scales of Justice he's also grappled and dragged ... so another 12 points, 23 altogether ... nice ... next attack which ALSO hits with a 28 ... holy fuck ... more axe action, then ... 12 points of damage this time.

The Emissary: "REPENT." Oof ... O.O

So Emhira and SILAHA have to get to the Engine under the Scribe, then. HOW?!!!

Emhira sends her raven, Dearest, through the pipe into the chamber ... okay, then ... Arcane Gate? Oh yes, nice one indeed ... so there's a portal RIGHT where they want to be, then, and she steps straight through ...

So she's right in the thick of it, then, and SILAHA casts Dimension Door in order to directly follow her.

Clockwork Cavalcade? Sounds FANCY ... yeah, DO THAT!!!

Abubakar: "Gimme two seconds ..." Oh fuck yeah ... yes, that's EXACTLY it ... SILAHA literally just PACMANs the fucking Scribe and ALL of its data ... fucking SWEET ...

A poem so beautiful it could convince reality to kill a god ... holy shit ...

Zaharzht hobbles in and casts Silence on the Archmage ... all the sound leaves the room ... hmmm ... two Counterspells from the constructs fail SPECTACULARLY ... yup, no verbal components, then ... essentially he can therefore now do FUCK ALL ... XD

The Archmage manages to slip free from the grapple, but gives the Emissary an attack of poortunity ... the mage gets out of the range of Silence and dumps a Misty Step to flee ...

The group at the hospital are currently very much OUT OF THE FIGHT ... hmmm ... so Arcadia casts Teleport and just jumps ALL OF THEM into the room ... okay, then ...

Trists casts Guiding Bolt on the Orb ... nice ... Nat20! Yeah! Double damage, then ... 8D6? Wow ... 36 points of Radiant damage! BOOM!!! Advantage on the next attack, then ...

Awwwwwww ... Topher gave her a little slingshot? That's so sweet ... she casts Blinding Smite on it, then holds her position for whatever's next ...

Which is a construct coming right at her ... oof ... she takes 44 POINTS OF DAMAGE in a single hit ... fuck ... and she just TAKES IT ...

Zaharzht takes a hit too ... and has to make a concentration save to maintain the Silence ... which stays ... phew ...

Asha runs round, lands on the Emissary and reaches into them, pulling out a rusted metal ring, produces a vine of briatwood, and forms them into a really nasty spear ... she spots the mage just in time before he emerges from Misty Step and attacks ... 24 to hit ... effortlessly bypassing the Shield, she inflicts a monstrous amount of damage and completely STUNS the fucker ... following through, she batters the prone body and then delivers a Flurry of Blows ... ouch ... HDYWTDT indeed ... yeah, she just rips his throat right out with her bare teeth ... O.O

Tishar rushes in, sees the Orb's already fucked up, and Rages as she starts battering it ... 38 points of damage, then ...

Ayden points his staff at the Orb and hurls a Guiding Bolt at it ... 30 to hit? Oooof ... 20 points of Radiant damage ... then turns to Tishar and says: "It's taking you that long?" before granting her an Additonal Attack ... fuck, REALLY?!!!

Oh, nostalgia ... hmmmm ...

She smashes it to pieces ... oh yeah, this shit EXPLODES, definitely ... both the constructs just instantly go inert and that's IT for the fight...

Wind? Hmmm ... osh shit, wait ... yes, of course, the gates are open as the gods are starting to come in ...

Meanwhile they all pile through Emhira's gate and leave the chamber behind ...

And that's IT!!! Branna calls it a night ... roll on next week, then.

[ostrichmonkey-games]

Do you have any favorite games about airships? Steampunk, magical, real, piratey, anything goes really.

Ooohhh, I love airships. I've run some settings that use them (or variations of airships) a few times, and it is always fun.

As for games about airships, I haven't played a ton specifically but!

Wildsea heavily features ships as a central theme and mechanic. The setting has you sailing a "sea" of treetop canopies and it rules. Airships exist, but aren't as huge a feature in the core game (which, still, if you like cool and weird ships, absolutely check out the game). The latest kickstarter is however going to add new rules for manning your own airship, among other things. So I'd keep an eye out for that release!

Also related to Wildsea, I have on my (very long) to-do list to eventually make a hack for it using the Edge Chronicles setting, which is one of my favorite fantasy settings that feature airships.

I've also heard a lot of good things about Flying Circus, which from my understanding is more about planes, but it really centers the mechanics of flying and piloting them! It's been on my to-check-out list for a while now honestly.

I'm also currently working on a mostly secret Space Pirates game with @temporalhiccup, in which the pirate ships are kind of airship-y. Think Treasure Planet, and that's a good starting point.

[peachdoxie]

📘

Put “📓” or some other version of a book emoji into my inbox and I’ll explain the plot of a fanfiction that I haven’t written but daydream about.

Another untitled Batfam fic because Batfam fic is my current hyperfixation and that means plot bunnies galore:

Eight months ago, most of the Bats mysteriously vanished from the Cave, like literally there one second gone the next. The only ones who didn't vanish are Jason, Barbara, and Alfred, because none of them were in the Cave at the time. Since then, the three of them have been trying to keep Gotham safe while desperately searching for their family members. Jason has been operating as Batman (with a LOT of mixed feelings about it) and the Red Hood while also dealing with the publicity of the Wayne family going missing, since their absence is much more difficult to cover up. Various other vigilantes/heroes have pretended to be Batman and Robin to keep rumors of their presence going.

The inciting incident is when Barbara detects someone trying to hack into the Batcomputer and manages to stop them when she recognizes hallmarks of it being Tim doing the hacking. She tracks his location down to an apartment out of state and Jason, as Batman, goes to confront him and see what's going on.

Arriving at Tim's apartment, Jason quickly learns that Tim has no memory of ever being Tim Drake or Robin or Red Robin and instead has an entirely different background and life story. Somehow, though, Tim's new persona figured out that the original Batman and a bunch of other vigilantes had gone missing and attempted to hack the Batcomputer in order to find out what was going on. Not wanting to leave Tim behind, Jason invites him back to the Cave and lets him help to try to find the other Bats.

With Tim present, the remaining Bats and the Justice League determine that Tim and the others are under some kind of reality warping memory spell that made them vanish. It's very good at preventing Tim from realizing he's Tim/Red Robin, but at the same time, it's weak to Tim acting on reflex to reminders of who he is (like calling him Tim out of the blue instead of his alias, or Jason's favorite of throwing things at him and his unconscious training responds before Tim consciously does).

The spell eventually weakens enough that Tim manages a few minutes of lucidity and explains to Jason that the spell made the missing Bats "be who they were before the masks" (or something like that) and that's why Tim was a loner obsessed with Batman and Robin after the spell because that's kinda who he was before he became Robin. Unfortunately, because the spell is adaptable, Tim goes back to the fake persona before too long, but now Jason and Barbara have a clue to locate the other Bats.

I don't have anything beyond that except vague notions of where the remaining Bats were magically relocated to, from easiest to hardest to find:

Damian: back at the League of Assassins

Dick: a small circus somewhere as an acrobat

Steph and Duke: civilian students elsewhere in the US (hard because of the mundanity)

Cass: on the run all over the world

I have not determined where Bruce would be but he would be the hardest to find because even before he was Batman he was highly competent at many things. It's only once Jason and Barbara have returned the others to Gotham that they all have to work together to find Bruce, even though none of them remember their connection to him or each other. Jason uses the excuse of "I'm assembling an elite team to locate the missing Waynes" for why he's gathered this supposedly ragtag crew of people.

The spell only breaks once all of the people affected by it are reunited. No I do not have any sort of motive for the antagonist doing this because who needs motives when you can have Batfamily feels instead.

(Also shhh we're ignoring the Superman heartbeat thing and any other possible tracking devices because plot convenience.)

It would mostly be a Jason POV fic with some from Barbara and other characters since it would be about Jason's relationship to his family and also because he'd be doing most of the action parts.

[worldscollideofficialpage]

🌏MASTERPOST🌎

Hi! Mod @cooliganguy here!

Community Page for role playing in the Worlds Collide universe as anyone except the main characters: https://www.tumblr.com/join/-wfarsvs

(Okay now I’m begging PLEASE SEND ASKS)

@vyn-t0koyami also runs this blog. Go follow them, they are an amazing artist. Characters Zesteel, Ares, Anthony, Vyn, and James belong to them, and Alex is their sona. I have been commenting recently on other things, but here is an ideal selection of people to ask!

Here are some of the characters:

Rene: A handsome male with jet black hair and hazel eyes. He loves gaming and food. He hates mashed potatoes. He has magical powers and an agency at his fingertips. He is very nice and kind-hearted, but don't get him mad. He talks casually and can decipher what slang words like "skibidi" or "gyatt" means

Rosalina: (from the Mario series) A goddess. She has hair that covers one of her eyes and a star wand. She is also very nice and will help anyone in need. She talks quite formally. She knows nothing about Gen Alpha.

Pomni: (from The Amazing Digital Circus) A female jester. She dons a jester hat that goes down to her back, a jester suit, and jester boots. Pomni has a very paranoid personality. She finally got out of the circus, but can't figure out how to get the censor filter off. She talks a bit frantically and casually. SHE KNOWS THE HORRORS OF THE INTERNET.

Jax: (also from The Amazing Digital Circus) A periwinkle rabbit with pink overalls and yellow gloves. He is mean to some extent and loves playing pranks on the other members. He has no clue about what the internet has done to him. He's just afraid of the fangirls.

Talking Flower: (also from the Mario universe) A talking flower with an orange head with a gaping hole and green petals. They would love to eat anything in their paths. They are also helpful with advice.

Stargirl: A girl who has some gimmicks up her sleeve. She has honey-colored hair and freckles. She is quirky and bubbly. Suprisingly, she knows every Gen Alpha word. (but she doesn’t use them)

Meggy Spletzer: (from SMG4) An Inkling/human hybrid. She is also a talented lawyer. She has freckles and headphones and goggles on her head.She talks casually, but does not know any Gen Alpha words.

Ragatha: (from The Amazing Digital Circus) A lifesized ragdoll with a button eye and a dress. She also has doll-like hair. She is scared of centipedes and has a hate/like relationship with Jax. She talks kind of formally.

Caine: (from The Amazing Digital Circus) An AI that tried to trap Pomni, Jax, and Ragatha in a circus. He is basically a pair of teeth with eyes and a suit. He did not know any Gen Alpha words until Jax hacked into his system, now he says them constantly.

Zesteel: (property of @vyn-t0koyami ): A very powerful god. He has dark skin and eyes that can pierce anyone with just a glare. He has a ruling personality that stands out from the others. He speaks very formally, but sometimes he talks casually.

Animaniacs: A silly trio that consists of Yakko, Wakko, and Dot. Yakko talks a lot and is the oldest. Wakko is the middle child and eats. A LOT. Dot is always self-aware and cutesy.

Gimberly (property of Doodley on YouTube): A very optimistic lady who helps Doodley with his videos. She can stay calm in almost any situation and is great for emotional support. She has a default sphere as her hair tie.

(for other @vyn-t0koyami characters, go read their masterpost)

~RULES~

1: No NSFW

2: You can try and hook the members up with each other, but do not hook a member up with an asker.

3: No spaming asks

And 4: Have fun asking! Everyone is included here!

Anons: (0 as of 7/20/24)

[kottonkandykiller]

made an amazing digital carnival oc. the au belongs to @/sm-baby (don’t want to spam them with notifications) but I’ll likely circus-ize him later. anyways, meet A-Z!

his name’s pronounced “A through Z,” but he’s normally called Az, Azzy, or A-Z (just the letters). Kinger calls him Cricket, Jax calls him Fuzzball (rich coming from another animal), and Gangle calls him Magicman.

he’s very calm, very friendly, but he’s also very direct, very honest, and very loyal. he literally can’t tell a lie (literally, it’s in his code), and he’s bad at keeping secrets, even though he tries. he does want the player to win the game and go home, but when he tries to help them, he’s prone to “glitching out” (the very base of his code takes over for a period of time, erasing his individuality) and is very violent during these times.

his game is the last one (most don’t reach it), and it has 3 parts. the first is called the Interrogation. the player is placed in an empty room and asked increasingly difficult questions about the mechanics of the game, certain tricks, hacks, and previous games. if you fail the Interrogation, you are allowed to retry as many times as you want, or leave the room. the next is the Hallway. you continue to a hall similar to the main hall full of unlabeled doors. this hall continues endlessly. you must find the door that leads to the main room, but other doors contain several different things (including, but not limited to, horrifying monsters, different game rooms, the main hall, upgrades, emptiness, etc.). next (and last) is the Show. you are forced to be A-Z’s helper in his magic tricks, which become less magical and more painful as the show goes on. if the invisible audience appreciates your show and claps at the end, you have won! if it doesn’t… well, you are killed. brutally.

relationships with the others:

Dislikes (but is doted on by) Gangle.

Indifferent (but polite) to Ragatha.

Good friends with Kinger.

Amicable with Zooble.

“Enemies” with Jax (they’re fuck buddies).

Was indifferent to Kaufmo.

Pitiful and kind towards Pomni.

Tense with Able.

Good friends with Caine.

[yourreddancer]

Let’s Go Taco.

Why going on offense works. And why the Dems need to do it more often.

JoJoFromJerz

Jun 2

Let’s cut the shit. This isn’t politics anymore; it’s not even reality TV. It’s like if C-SPAN got hijacked by the cast of Tiger King, and every episode ends with Steve Bannon eating a possum raw behind a Bass Pro Shop while Ted Cruz tries to sell you a time-share in Cancun. The Republican Party isn’t a political movement; it’s a group therapy session for people who think “critical thinking” is a Marxist plot and “woke” just means their Monster Energy finally kicked in. These are the kind of people who’d lose a chess match to a Magic 8-Ball, demand a recount, and then launch a congressional investigation into whether George Soros hacked their toaster.

And my dear Democrats? My sweet, trembling Democrats. Still showing up to this demolition derby with a factsheet, a gluten-free casserole, and the energy of a substitute teacher who just discovered TikTok. They keep acting like we’re all in a Jane Austen novel, clutching their pearls over decorum while the other side is setting the house on fire and selling the ashes on Truth Social. “When they go low, we go high,” they say, as Marjorie Taylor Greene swings a folding chair and Matt Gaetz tries to Venmo a minor for bail money.

The high road? Honey, the high road’s been condemned since Josh Hawley tried to sprint down it and tripped over his own ego. Now he’s out there clutching his pocket Constitution like a teddy bear and practicing that weird-ass wife-kiss—the kind that’s got all the heat of two tilapia slapping together in a bait bucket.

You want to win? You don’t bring a fact-check to a meme fight. You don’t bring a policy paper to a clown orgy. You show up armed with jokes, receipts, and a bazooka loaded with righteous mockery—and maybe a hazmat suit, because the stench of flop sweat and Axe body spray is overwhelming.

For example; the second I said no one genuinely liked JD Vance, Republicans started quote-tweeting me in his “defense”—but let’s be real, most of them sounded like they were trying to convince themselves. It was less “how dare you!” and more “well, uh, my cousin’s roommate’s dog met him once and said he seemed… fine, I guess?” But I digress.

Why does this matter? Because the minute you stop mocking these goons, they get to pretend they’re serious. Only they’re not. They’re the mall cops of fascism, the sweat-soaked fever dream of every guy who’s ever been kicked out of a Chili’s for yelling about Benghazi. When Democrats go “weird,” go “taco,” and stay on offense, we control the conversation.

We hijack the narrative and make them play our game. Suddenly they’re rage-tweeting at 3am, sweating through their monogrammed pajamas, autocorrect turning their desperate comebacks into word salad. We leave them so rattled they’d beg to be canceled just to hide from the spotlight. And when the circus is over, they go home and kiss their wives with all the passion of a DMV vision test—eyes glazed, just waiting for it to be over.

Remember last summer when Democrats started calling Republicans “weird”? That wasn’t just a playground taunt—it was a strategic masterstroke. For years, Republicans tried to brand Democrats as out-of-touch, radical, or “woke.” But when Dems flipped the script and started calling out Republican behavior as weird, it landed like a brick in a punchbowl. Suddenly, it was Republicans on defense, scrambling to explain why their candidates were talking about space lasers, banning books, or ranting about litter boxes in schools like they’d been huffing glue in a Home Depot parking lot.

Here’s why “weird” worked: it cuts through the noise. It’s not policy-wonk language or partisan mudslinging. It’s a gut-check. Most Americans just want normal, competent government—not performative outrage, not conspiracy theories, and definitely not a parade of people who look like they lost a bet with evolution. By calling Republicans “weird,” Democrats shifted the conversation away from ideology and toward basic social reality: These people are not like you. They’re not even like each other. They’re just… fucking weird.

And “weird” sticks. It’s the one label their lizard brains can’t shake. They can handle “racist.” They can spin “corrupt.” But call them weird and suddenly they’re shrieking about coastal elites and soy lattes, desperate to prove they’re normal. Meanwhile, Marjorie Taylor Greene is out there chasing Jewish space lasers like Wile E. Coyote with a tinfoil hat, and Lauren Boebert is live-streaming her vape pen and giving Hando Calrissians at a Beetlejuice matinee like she’s gunning for a cameo in “Scandal: Trailer Park Edition.”

These people couldn’t find dignity with a search warrant. You can rationalize “radical” or “elitist”—but when your party’s biggest culture war is a meltdown over Dr. Seuss and Mr. Potato Head, you stop looking like a political movement and start looking exactly like what you are: the human embodiment of a gas station hot dog that’s been spinning on the roller since the Bush administration—shriveled, greasy, and so questionable that even a flock of seagulls at a landfill wouldn’t touch it. You’re busy having a meltdown over kids’ toys and picture books, while the rest of us are just hoping someone shows up with a biohazard bag and wheels you to the dumpster where spoiled leftovers go.

But here’s the thing: Democrats can’t stop there. Because the GOP’s bench is so deep, it’s basically a bottomless pit of people who look like they’d get banned from a Chuck E. Cheese for fighting the animatronics. And honestly, mocking them is so easy it’s like winning a staring contest with a goldfish—they practically do all the work for you.

Take Trump—who Wall Street now calls “Taco”, not because he’s spicy or has any flavor, but because as it pertains to his stupid-ass tariffs, “Trump Always Chickens Out”.

T.A.C.O.

He’s the only guy who can threaten nuclear annihilation on Twitter, then backpedal so fast he leaves skid marks on his adult diapers. Wall Street bros call him Taco with the same energy you’d reserve for a guy who peaked during the puberty video in seventh grade and still brags about it. He’s the only man alive who could bankrupt a casino, stiff a porn star, and then get trapped in a revolving door while live-tweeting his own incompetence. And nothing, NOTHING, makes Donnie’s sphincter pucker tighter than the thought of being the punchline at a hedge fund’s open bar.

He can survive six bankruptcies, a porn star payoff, and enough orange spray tan to make a traffic cone jealous, but he cannot survive being laughed at. Call him Taco or simply “chicken” to his face and watch him melt down like a MAGA hat in a bonfire at Burning Man.

But let’s not sleep on his supporting cast. The GOP’s freak show is a parade of evolutionary plot twists.

Trump’s backup VP, JD Vance for instance, is BEGGING to be mocked. Smoky-eye McPope-killer looks like someone tried to resurrect a Confederate ghost using vape smoke and off-brand moonshine. He’s got the unsettling aura of a man who dry-humps couches and then leaves Yelp reviews about the upholstery. If you told me he spends his nights rehearsing his “working-class hero” routine in front of a cracked mirror at a rest stop on the Oklahoman panhandle, I wouldn’t bat an eye. JD has the charisma of a wet ashtray and the warmth of a tax audit. If he ever found a soul, he’d probably trade it for a stack of expired Arby’s coupons and a limited-edition MyPillow signed by Kid Rock. If irony ever touched him, it’d need a tetanus shot.

But if you think that’s the bottom of the barrel, just wait—because next up is Stephen Miller, the Spray Hair Nazferatu himself. Miller looks like the ghost of a failed ventriloquist dummy haunting the clearance aisle at Spirit Halloween. His hairline is fleeing his face faster than his soul ran from his body. Picture a guy who sleeps upside down in a closet and lives off cold Spaghettios and children’s tears—you wouldn’t even question it. He’s what you’d get if you asked AI to generate a substitute teacher for a haunted orphanage: someone who takes attendance by candlelight and confiscates lunch money to fund his collection of cursed porcelain dolls. If he ever smiled, I’m pretty sure a swarm of moths would fly out. And now that his wife left him for Phony Stark, you just know Miller spends his nights slumped in a cuck chair, doomscrolling through her Instagram, surrounded by knockoff Avengers merch and the faint smell of spray-on hair, whispering, “It should’ve been me, Musk. It should’ve been me.”

Of course, the circus doesn’t stop there. Enter Jason Miller, the human embodiment of a partially shaved scrotum—if that scrotum had been left out in the sun and then run over by a riding mower. His face looks like it lost a bare-knuckle brawl with a weed whacker and then begged for a mercy waxing from a blind sadist. Every time he appears on TV, somewhere a Gillette executive gets a bonus for the spike in razor sales from people desperate not to look like him.

And as if that weren’t enough, we have Steve Bannon, the living definition of anthropomorphic aspic. If you don’t know what aspic is, it’s meat Jell-O—which is exactly what Bannon would be if he ever melted in the sun. He’s the only person who could get arrested for loitering outside a dumpster and then try to write it off as a corporate retreat. If he gets any more gelatinous, the CDC’s going to have to issue a warning about handling him without gloves. Honestly, if you left him alone in a room with a jar of mayonnaise, you’d come back to find the mayo looking for a shower and a support group.

And just when you think this clown parade couldn’t get any more unhinged, in floats Elon Musk—so high we could strap a rocket to his ass and ride him to Mars. At this point, he’s basically a billionaire ketamine goblin lugging a suitcase full of pills everywhere he goes. He’s had more chemical vacations than actual friends, and if he gets any more desperate for attention, he’ll start livestreaming his next dissociative episode just to see if anyone still cares.

You see, this is how you win (at least in part): you go on offense. Every day. Every tweet. Every interview. Don’t just hit back—hit first, hit smart, hit so hard they have to download a meditation app before their next Fox News segment. Don’t just call Trump a liar—call him Taco to his face and watch him go full end cap clearance price Oompa Loompa meltdown. Don’t just say “the GOP is extreme”—say they’re the political equivalent of eating gas station sushi and calling it a cleanse.

But don’t become them. Don’t start selling brain pills or screaming about lizard people. Stay sharp, stay righteous, but never, ever stay quiet. Make them the punchline, because holy hell, have you seen them? Keep the receipts, keep the memes, and keep the pressure on until they’re begging for the sweet relief of the days when their biggest scandal was a tan suit and a president who could form complete sentences.

So when Trump starts ranting about tariffs, coups, or windmills giving people cancer, just smile, look him dead in his beady, rage-addled eyes, and say, “Sure thing, Taco.” Then walk off while he rage-tweets into the void and his donors start Googling “Ron DeSantis feet pics” just to remember what shame feels like.

That’s how you win. That’s how you end this clown car demolition derby. And if all else fails, just remember: every time you call him Taco, an angel gets its wings, Steve Bannon molts another layer of skin, and somewhere, a MAGA goon sobs into his gravy-stained “Don’t Tread On Me” shirt while blaming the deep state for his inability to satisfy even a fleshlight.

Listen up, Democratic elected officials and candidates: it’s time to stop bringing butter knives to a chainsaw fight. Ditch the polite applause and start roasting these frauds so brutally their grandkids will need SPF 10,000 and a therapy dog just to read their Wikipedia pages. Don’t just clap back—vaporize them. Make them wish they’d stayed anonymous in their mom’s basement, rage-posting about chemtrails instead of embarrassing themselves on a national stage.

And hey, sure, try to keep it just classy enough that your grandma doesn’t clutch her pearls and your campaign manager doesn’t start drafting apology tweets. But don’t forget: the goal here is to roast them so thoroughly they’ll be frantically searching, “how to enter witness protection from a meme,” and praying there’s a “control-alt-delete your reputation” shortcut.

And can we please get back to calling them weird? Because they’re so endlessly fucking weird.

[toobwaysider]

THE POOTICUCK ATLAS PART IV

More verbiage from Canterville, but this time, we’re focusing on Pooticuck County, Canterville’s main ally in the Flatlands, as well as all the towns and villages which make up that micro-nation.  This will be the fourth entry….

BANAUG – Perhaps Astiph the Toddler Godling originally focused on the Connecticut region because there were several enclaves of underground realms in which he could turn all of the Wonnix, the Firbolg descendants, into whiskaways to complete his collection of those humanoids with tails. But there were several points of interest in the Nutmeg State which kept him coming back to steal even more terrain than Massachusetts ever dared.

One of the most enticing hunting grounds for Astiph has been the “Quiet Corner” of the state, in the northeast tri-corner with Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Tucked away out of the mainstream of activity in Connecticut, Windham County has remained off the radar for the Monitaurs since the days when the B.U.M.P.P.O. militia served as the protectors of the thin space at the Connecticut Notch. The last crisis caused by Astiph was the vanishment of the secluded religious order known as the Sisters of Beneficence, using the 1877 bursting of the Staffordville Dam in Tolland County as a deadly distraction. (Legend has it that Astiph disappeared the Sisters of Beneficence with a global mindswipe in a fit of pique, all because the nuns of that order spoke out against him. Instead, now they are in the Flatlands, continuing with their mission of charitable works and still speaking out against Astiph.)

Previously, the only sign of disruption by that crippled semi-god was the whisking away of the hidden village of Banogue, once located not far from the lost village of Bara-Hack, near Pomfret. This occurred in 1754 and Astiph used the cacophonous and deadly “Battle of the Frogs” as the distraction, again using a Tolland County occurrence as the scapegoat.

But a key difference was that the people of Banaug went willingly into the green light of a vortex in hopes of finding sanctuary in a world of magic, rather than risk persecution and even death from the humans of Earth. For the community of Banaug was made up of a clan of lycanthropes. Shapeswappers. Werewolves. They were Irish werewolves, however, known as the Faeladh amongst themselves, descended from the Laignach Faelad warriors who worshipped the bloodthirsty demi-god Crom Cruach, the same Crom Cruach who never hesitated to slake his thirst with the blood of his most fervent followers.

But a tribe of Faeladh broke free of that heritage after learning of and adopting the peaceful lifestyle of the Wulvers from the Scottish highlands. A clan of these Faeladh Wulvers took up the life of the Travelers and they had the misfortune of being on Muckle Skerry when the Harriers attacked. When they reached the New World with those Scottish Fògarraich, they did not feel comfortable living among the others and so they left, establishing Banaug as the name of their village in Pomfret. (“Bánóg” is an Irish term referring to leveled ground suitable for dancing. The village’s spelling variation spared them from standing out when so many other locations had the same construct - Natchaug, Quinebaug, Pachaug and of course, Wampaug, serving as examples.)

SEDDENFIELD – As another of the communities from the Connecticut Western Reserve which were swept up in the Ohio Vanishment, Seddenfield proved to be a very insular village with an economy based on an everlasting cycle of tag sales. But they proved to be too closed-off a society, so much so that they were driven to conduct quarterly Rutfracas festivals every year – sanctioned bacchanalias geared toward refreshing the gene pool. I think those two features are all you really need to know. (Besides, I got carried away with describing Banaug. And Barnumton will be even worse.)

BARNUMTON – As the Old West inexorably gave way to a new century, an American frontier circus suffered a calamitous disaster, one which took the life of its star attraction. With the loss of this epitome of Wild West showmanship, even with a handicap, it seemed as though that circus began a downward spiral of misfortune. On its last legs commercially in the United States, the family-owned circus decided to risk it all with one last grasp for glory in Europe. As they traveled across the continent, the circus changed its name from the family surname to reflect each country they visited – from Axphain and Klugenstein to Gantha and Marisi. Eventually they arrived in Spain where they adopted the name “Circus de Carretero”.

They arrived in northern Spain, in the Asturias region, in February of 1888, just as snowflakes began to fall. But the people of the village of Asqueroso assured them that there was nothing to be concerned about. It was Espana! And they always had mild winters.

Reassured by the villagers’ confidence, the roustabouts began setting up their tents and readying their animals.

Unfortunately, no one in Asqueroso had the Sight. They could not foresee the coming of Nevadona… “the Three-Eights”.

It began snowing in earnest on February 14 and it did not let up until nearly the end of March. Although they were only 1,000 feet away from the outskirts of Asqueroso, no one from the circus was able to safely reach the villagers for help. They had to hunker down as close to each other as possible, including the animal cages, with the canvas big tops wrapped over them with only strategically placed vents for air - without the winds ! - for air circulation. Because of that safeguard for insulation, they had to be especially careful with open flames for heat, since the canvas had already been drenched with paraffin for water-proofing in anticipation of putting on a show.

That storm resulted in 29 deaths in Asturias, collapsed houses, and twelve days without communication with the circus. When the villagers were finally able to plow through using their own bodies, they saw the Big Top standing tall, just poking out of the massive snowdrift. But as they pulled it away to reach the wagons they expected to find, the canvas collapsed under its own weight. Despite retaining its traditional shape when erected, there was nothing under the canvas. The entire circus was gone.

Suddenly the eyes of those villagers glazed over, and they dully returned to their homes in Asqueroso where they were met by their families who had no clue why they had gone out into that heavy snowfall. No one remembered that an American circus had been there.

As the circus folk woke up from that first night under siege from the elements, they found themselves under a bright morning sun on a warm spring day, with various dignitaries from across the micro-nation of Pooticuck County, including the Thane himself. (The Thaneship is the equivalent to the Presidency of the United States, but as things stand now, the Thane is still respected by the people.)

Informed that they were the latest whiskaways kidnapped from Earth by a mad, petulant godchilde, the circus folk were given a parcel of land to develop into their own unique carnival-styled town. They were warmly welcomed by all, as the residents of Pooticuck County desired such entertainment diversions in their new world. The town was named after the man who was synonymous with that atmosphere – Barnumton. And today its neighborhoods are mostly trailer parks which serve as artists’ colonies. You won’t find a more eccentric community in all of the Flatlands, I think.

OLDE SUGATUCK – Many runaway fugitive slaves passed through Connecticut on the Underground Railroad, thinking they were on their way to a safe haven in Canada. But every so often, it was discovered that some of those Africans had the ability to fly. Once identified as such, they were “recruited” (rather than just “whisked away”) to the Flatlands where they were asked to volunteer their gifts for the greater good of Pooticuck County. Some returned (nearly) to Earth, living and working as Monitaurs in Canterville. But most remained in PC, as freemen, and living in their own community in purloined territory from the Ohio Firelands, to which they gave the self-aware, ironical name of Olde Sugatuck.

The name was suggested by the Wampaug people, who knew a little something about taking pride in who you are. (“Sugatuck” in their language meant “Negro”.)

[beyondxxxblr]

Circus Words: Magic Puzzle - версия 1.3.3

Сегодня на обзоре обсудим игру с категории Словесные. Circus Words: Magic Puzzle от крутого разработчика .

https://hack-mods.ru/slovesnye/9418-vzlomannaya-circus-words-magic-puzzle-mod-unlocked-stabilnaya-versiya-apk-na-android.html

[natgoodmans]

Hi Cossette! Happy (belated) Pride Month and I hope you're having a wonderful first half of 2024 💖 This year has been keeping me busy (it was nevertheless eventful in a good way), hence the belated message following up from January.

I feel you! I also need to comb through my favourite albums & books to think about how I'd pair books / albums. After relistening & checking out different music releases I would go with the following:

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern: Bewitched by Laufey - this album dazzles just like the magic in the book 🤩 The tracks from Bewitch also radiate this vintage quality that I personally associate with the book's setting!

The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon: If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power by Halsey! Just like the book, Halsey's 4th studio album has this expansive quality that features empowering female narratives.

Circe by Madeline Miller: The Loneliest Time by Carly Rae Jepsen & Where the Butterflies Go in the Rain by Raveena. Recurring theme from the book is about loss/grief and self-discovery/healing - something that both music albums also explore!

Sofi and the Bone Song by Adrienne Tooley: OUT OF THE BLUE by Brynn Cartelli & In The End It Always Does by The Japanese House - Brynn's debut album has this wintry feel to me that reminds me of the book's setting. Sofi's character arc is very much "returning to her muse" which is reminiscent of Amber when she was working on her sophomore album!

Heartstopper comic series: a mix of You Signed Up For This by Maisie Peters, Quarter-Life Crisis by Baby Queen, and Sour by Olivia Rodrigo!

Ahh this is a totally valid take regarding fantasy books! I can imagine that listening to someone narrating fantasy books being a more immersive experience. While I prefer reading in silence with a hardcopy I also feel that I sometimes need more time to process fancier writing style - though usually the effort will pay off later on!

P.S. Ahh thank you so much! I really enjoy finding parallels between different media - the realisation that many themes explored in my favourite pieces of media are universal & a shared experience 💖

jennifer!! hi friend! i hope you're well 🤍 happy belated pride month, happy june! i'm glad the first half of the year kept you busy in a good way! what were some highlights? you had your eras show already, right? i think you said you were going to london but i can't remember if it was the june dates or august!! how was it! how was it? 🤍

i am very :/// to say that i have not read a whole lot this year! i finally read lessons in chemistry and that was a new favorite, and finally read s. which i've been putting off for ages, but aside from that i feel like all i've been doing is audiobooking classics (my local library got hacked and took everything offline and somehow i got locked out of libby for like a month so the only audiobooks i could listen to were classics 💔). i'm currently making my way through the hunchback of the notre dame though! i'm hoping to finish that one soon!!

have you been reading anything good lately? i definitely want to get back into reading more soon! i've been very busy (and dealing with some stuff) and i feel like i haven't read a fantasy in a hot minute so i'll take any recs if you have them! i have technically been "annotating the starless sea" for ... over a year now (i stopped at page like, seven and never got back to it — which is a trend i think with some of my "annotation projects" for books i love, i get too overwhelmed and never finish it) but i do want to go back to it soon... maybe that's my "homework" for the rest of the year — to finish the annotation projects i've started (gatsby, normal people, the starless sea).

i think that pairing bewitched with the night circus is perfect!! and i really do like the if i can't have love i want power + priory combination! i still haven't read circe (it's been on my tbr cart for about two years now... if not longer... maybe i will get to it soon (unlikely)). and i still haven't read adrienne tooley! i think i meant to read sweet & bitter magic ages ago and never did 😭 definitely agree with heartstopper + baby queen + YSUFT + sour too!!

so lovely to hear from you as always <3333 i hope you're doing well and staying safe!

[companionwolf]

Games we're doing/already made characters for:

Pathfinder 2e

Eclipse Phase

Explorers of Fate (PMD)

FIST

Delta Green

Fiasco x2 [zombie apocalypse + SOMA-esque]

BLASE + The Shadows

Fractal Romance

You Awaken in a Strange Place

Triangle Agency

Apocalypse World

Games we want to try:

Kids on Bikes/adjacent

Magical Kitties Save the Day

Changeling the Lost/Chronicles of Darkness

Invasion

...Birdwatch Feelings? (My L&F XCOM 2 hack)

Streets/Streets 2: Night Shift

The Witch is Dead

Modern!Call of Cthulhu

A FATE game (Secrets of Cats?)

Cathulhu 7e

Very Good Dogs of Chernoybl

The Veil? Something cyberpunk

Reworked Warriors Adventure Game

Flying Circus: Chariots of Steel

Liminal Horror

Vast and Starlit

Apocalypse Roadtrip

Extracausal

Flyover Country

Crafted

ALIEN RPG

Twlight 2000

Unknown Armies 2E

Deviant the Renegade

Albedo

Mutant Year Zero (w Genlab Alpha)

HC SVNT DRCNES

After the Bomb

Palladium (Rifts?)

The Bureau (PBtA)

Paranoia

Engine Heart

Elite Dangerous RPG

The Company

Extreme Metapunks Forever: The RPG

Idiot Teenagers with a Death Wish

Hostile Work Enviroment

The Foundation RPG

...And definitely others as time goes on!

[masteryminutes]

Time Management for Parents: Juggling Family and Personal Time

Explore practical strategies to balance family, work, and personal time. Plunge into the pages of this blog post filled with laughter, brimming with valuable time-saving tips and clever parental productivity hacks.

How Does One Juggle Life? A Parent's Dilemma

Parenting is like juggling flaming torches while riding a unicycle – an entertaining yet challenging spectacle. As a parent, you're not just managing kids and chaos; you're balancing work, personal time, and the mysterious realm of family responsibilities. So, buckle up for a rollercoaster ride through the life of our fictional character, Jane Jugglesalot, as she unveils the secrets of time management in the peculiar world of parenthood.

The Circus of Parenthood: Juggling Family Responsibilities

Jane, a seasoned juggler in her own right, found herself in the ultimate circus tent – the household. With kids running amok, deadlines looming at work, and personal desires quietly whimpering in the background, she wondered, "How do I keep all these balls in the air without accidentally setting the house on fire?" Parental Time Management 101: The Three-Ring Strategy Enter the Three-Ring Strategy, Jane's brainchild for managing family responsibilities. Ring 1: Family, Ring 2: Work, and Ring 3: Personal Time. Each has its own spotlight moment, but blending them seamlessly is where the magic happens. Jane started her day by donning her Family Ring hat – ensuring the kids were breakfasted, dressed, and ready for the day. Once the little circus performers were off to school, she slipped into her Work Ring attire, tackling emails and conference calls with the precision of a tightrope walker. By lunchtime, she gracefully segued into the Personal Time Ring, a magical intermission where she nurtured her interests and passions. The key here was not to let the circus tents overlap, avoiding the chaos of a lion suddenly appearing in the middle of a juggling act. Transitioning effortlessly between these rings became Jane's secret to maintaining sanity and avoiding the chaos of a clown car collision.

Balancing Act: Work, Parenting, and Personal Time

As Jane masterfully balanced her life rings, she pondered, "How do I keep my priorities straight without accidentally swapping the grocery list with the quarterly report?" Parenting Productivity Hacks: A Balancing Act with Precision Precision was the name of the game. Jane realized that setting priorities was crucial, and color-coded calendars became her trusty sidekicks. Work meetings were in blue, family events in green, and personal time was a burst of rainbow hues. Transitioning smoothly between these vibrant categories brought a sense of order to Jane's chaotic circus of life. Time Management Tips for Parents: The Power of 'No' Another revelation struck Jane – the power of saying 'no.' Not to the kids, of course, but to the unnecessary extras that threatened to creep into her schedule like uninvited clowns. She chuckled at the thought of turning away those time-stealing jesters. "Sorry, Mr. Clown, I can't attend your impromptu party. I've got a juggling act of my own to perform!"

The Parenthood Time Warp: Efficient Techniques for Time Travel

Parenthood sometimes feels like a time warp where days blend into nights, and suddenly, you're wondering if you missed a month or two. Jane faced this temporal conundrum head-on, asking herself, "How can I stretch time without breaking the space-time continuum?" Time-saving Tips for Parents: The Time-Turner of Parenthood Jane discovered her very own Time-Turner – a magical device known as delegation. She recruited the kids as junior jugglers in the household circus, teaching them age-appropriate tasks and transforming chores into a collaborative routine. With each child contributing their bit, the time-turning magic happened – suddenly, Jane found herself with an extra hour or two every day. It was as if the laws of time bowed to the efficiency of a well-coordinated family unit. Delegating tasks not only lightened Jane's load but also taught the kids essential life skills. Talk about killing two birds with one juggling pin!

The Great Escape: Personal Time for Parents

In the whirlwind of family responsibilities and work deadlines, Jane recognized the importance of a great escape – a moment where the spotlight was solely on her. She mused, "How can I reclaim my personal time without resorting to a full-fledged disappearing act?" Parenthood Time Management: The Art of 'Me' Time To avoid drowning in the sea of parental obligations, Jane crafted a weekly schedule that reserved specific blocks exclusively for 'Me' Time. Whether it was indulging in a good book, pursuing a hobby, or simply savoring a quiet cup of coffee, these moments became her lifelines. Carving out intentional personal time not only rejuvenated Jane but also made her a better juggler in the circus of life.

The Grand Finale: Parental Work-Life Harmony

As Jane perfected her juggling act, she marveled at the grand finale – a harmonious blend of work and family, with personal time serving as the glittering confetti on top. She questioned, "Can I truly achieve work-life balance, or is it just a mythical unicorn that parents chase in vain?" Strategies for Busy Parents: The Unicorn of Work-Life Balance Jane discovered that work-life balance wasn't a mythical unicorn; it was a dynamic creature that required constant attention and adaptation. Flexibility became her ally, allowing her to adjust the rhythm of her juggling act based on the demands of the moment. Adapting to the ever-changing circus of life, Jane realized that work-life balance wasn't about perfect equilibrium but rather a dance where each partner took turns leading.

Wrapping Up the Circus: A Standing Ovation for Parenthood

In the grand finale of Jane's circus of life, the audience rose to their feet in a standing ovation. The laughter, the tears, the perfectly executed juggling act – it was a spectacle that left everyone in awe. Jane took a bow, her heart filled with gratitude for the chaos, the challenges, and the moments of sheer magic. As you embark on your own juggling act, remember the wisdom gleaned from Jane Jugglesalot's journey – prioritize, delegate, and savor those precious moments of personal time. Life may be a circus, but with the right juggling techniques, you can turn it into a showstopper. And so, the curtain falls on this whimsical tale of parental time management, leaving you with a smile and a newfound appreciation for the juggling act that is parenthood. Normal Working Days: TimeActivity6:00 AMWake up and morning routine7:00 AMPrepare and have breakfast8:00 AMCommute to work or start remote work12:00 PMLunch break1:00 PMResume work5:00 PMFinish work and commute home6:00 PMFamily time and dinner8:00 PMChildren's bedtime routine9:00 PMPersonal time, relaxation, or chores10:30 PMPrepare for bed and sleep Holidays: TimeActivity7:30 AMWake up and relaxed morning8:30 AMFamily breakfast10:00 AMOutdoor activities or family outings1:00 PMLunch and leisure time3:00 PMHobbies, personal projects, or relaxation6:00 PMFamily dinner8:00 PMMovie night, games, or quality family time9:30 PMChildren's bedtime routine10:30 PMExtended personal time or early bedtime Read the full article

[null-if-i]

its easier to be frustrated at my child self for wanting comfort and company and to be seen and recognized and cherished, because that's what we learned from our caretakers, that's what we were taught, that's what became normal. it was a normal survival mechanism to learn quickly that seeking out attention was unsafe and most likely to bring rejection. that was literally the truth at one point and it was safe and wise to learn it. it's 'irrational' now because i am in a different situation, but my learning took place in the fundamental crucible for all my understanding of social interactions.

of course i still assume that seeking company is going to lead to rejection and/or be seen as annoying, 'attention-seeking' needy clingy childish disgusting pathetic behavior, that people are going to scorn me for because they expect me to be 'better' meaning: quieter and more independent, so independent that i don't need anyone to help me with anything ever, because having needs would be selfish of me, would be demanding and greedy and all-my-fault and exhausting for them and unethical for lacking empathy for them because. the codependent system where i am the fixer who silently does my job and theirs to 'keep us safe' and meet some of my needs. because that system had no... framework for genuine, boundaries, collaboration, equity, and care. my worth and whether i was sub-human that day or not was measured by whether i was annoying (had needs, expressed anything independently, or simply was not adequately vigilant and attuned to fixing for and helping authority)

that is a horrible way to treat a child and a terrible thing to teach a child to expect even unintentionally, and it is a tragedy that i am so adaptable because i had to learn fast, because i was punished and rejected so sharply for normal human behavior. that is tragic.

it's easier, in the sense of a well worn groove, to simply get angry and blame my inner child for clinging to the past and not simply realizing that it's different now, without practice, or proof, as if by magic. or maybe it's simpler.

it is also understandable to be angry and upset by my own limitations, especially when i can see how they're holding me back. being frustrated is a totally rational response to having a skill issue that you feel is very basic when you want to move on. practicing the basics is hard. it takes time and patience and it's harder to see the results. especially... when you see other people's results and they're doing things so far beyond your skill level, that it looks like magic, like gymnastics, like a circus dance. *they* juggle with ease-- not just balls, not just 3, but with grace and a funny face and 10 in the air and a hackeysack and a highwire! and i can't catch 2. one is easy enough, but keeping one in the air without my eyes on the other... i can't really hack it.

so of course it's easier to get frustrated and yell with that angry, fearful brain: "just get better!! UGH!!" the unspoken message of 'you suck' of 'no one likes you' 'this is why' 'you can't do such simple things, no wonder everyone rejects you'

and of course the unspoken message being wrong, not everyone rejects me. most people do not. expecting people to reject me is a bit weird to presume.

but again, foundations. learned early, hard knocks, survived.

[spirit-x-ing]

It was like a circus on full display. The confusion of the fender bender before them, the confusion of their stunt in the coffee shop behind them. She watched as John's training stepped back in and took the lead. Gathering info and making up a lie to cover up her little panic ❛oopsie.❜ She headed to the back and found the location of the internet modem, stuck her ghostly hand in it and short-circuited the machine. It won't erase the moment of their appearance from the cloud. However, it will cover most of the questions afterward. She was sure the BPRD had a hacking team for that kind of stuff anyway.

She could tell that he was overwhelmed and confused, so she figured it was best to linger away. She was attached; she could find him as long as he stayed attached. She ignored the few nosy ghosts that gathered at the location and headed down a back alleyway. She crossed over and popped out her cell. She noticed a text message.

Why did you save the agent? I want those notes.

Lorelai swallowed. 12 million was on the line because of obscure occult notes written in German or Dutch. She didn't know, she didn't bother to translate. It was coded.

None of your business. She typed before erasing it.

The transaction doesn't need to involve innocent deaths. When and where do you want to meet?

She waited until her cell vibrated.

Tomorrow, 11:45 PM at 945 Magazine St Fine

Lorelai sighed before putting away her cell. This was it, her big gig and she was going to blow it. She looked down pushing back the guilt that was nagging her. Her thoughts wandered back to John. She wondered if he was okay. She wondered how she would even approach him or should anymore. He's probably upset about why she left him at the Hospital. He's probably pissed off about the mess she left him and Bureau to clean up.

The truth was, she liked him. Maybe too much, she tried hard not to think about him during quiet moments like this. It was easier to distract herself with the dead, her duty as a warden, living, and trying to make ends meet. No one wants to see a loved one die. No one wants to outlive those they care about. She has done it, she has felt it. She's not sure she's ready to go through that pain again. She swallowed as she realized she was subconsciously spinning the engagement ring she was supposed to pawn. She lifted her hand and looked at the ring and sighed. She looked up and away before crossing over.

She thought of the pawn shop and appeared in front of it. A spirit of a man who got shot lingered. Lorelai swallowed. ❝Are you ready to let go of the guilt of your mistake or not?❞ she asked. The man looked at her before groaning, still stuck in his death state. ❝Look man, I can't help you if you don't want to accept you messed up and died,❞ she stated. ❝I can send a reaper later,❞ she stated. The guy shook his head.

"I'm not dead, I'm just shot," he stated. Lorelai nodded and sighed before sensing John nearing once more. She turned her head before seeing him through the veil shining lightly. He was feeling better, and his spirit wasn't as dim. ( Mostly because of her prior actions. ) She watched as he headed back to the alleyway before letting the string work its magic. She suddenly felt pulled towards him and appeared once more. She looked around confused. Then noticed he was now climbing up a ladder.

❝Ugh...John,❞ she whispered to herself. ❝Duty calls, huh?❞ she noted. Figuring he was still searching for clues for the suspect. She grimaced before watching him climb to the top before appearing behind him. Like a specter, she floated behind him. Watching him catch his breath as he started to search around. She was grateful her client was gone. Lorelai swallowed not sure how to appear and approach him. She landed softly behind him and hesitated, reaching out for him.

She shook her head, before looking up and away trying to psyche herself more than anything. She suddenly appeared, sneaking up from behind. She lifted her arms up and wrapped around him. She playfully covered his eyes with her hands. Her mouth neared his ear as she whispered.

❝Couldn't find another agent to take the case?❞ she paused as she pulled away a bit. ❝Or are you that committed to getting yourself killed?❞ she breathed near his neck. She finally uncovered his eyes, pulling away, before appearing to step back. She wasn't fully crossed over. Mostly just appearing so. She suddenly hugged one arm, as guilt started seeping in once more. She looked down and away. ❝I was hoping if we ever met again...it wouldn't be like this,❞ she finally admitted sadly, a hint of bitterness evident.

Where were they going? John's brow furrowed slightly as he tailed the mysterious figure down the sidewalk, far enough back not to be too obvious as he intermingled among others passersby along the way. Were they the one who had Lorelai steal the documents concerning Rasputin from the Bureau? Or were they simply aware that she had them and intended to take them from her? Regardless of the answer, it wouldn't be a good one.

Before he could ruminate over it much further, the stranger turned to step into a nearby alleyway. Well, that could be a trap of some sort, couldn't it? Unless Lorelai was waiting there to meet them and avoiding it meant leaving her to handle someone menacing alone, or using this as an an opportunity to apprehend her buyer. A prickling of unease ran along his skin, yet he had no other recourse at the moment. Hand resting near the handgun at his hip, John followed his target.

Only a few steps had been taken before a loud bang emanated from the street behind them. Both he and the figure turned instinctively at the sound, every muscle in his body tensing on impulse. However, that quick glance revealed the source of the commotion to be a typical fender-bender, with two parties emerging from the wreckage with no visible injuries. A relief to see, though he had just lost any element of surprise he may have previously possessed over his suspect.

Sure enough, the second John turned around once more, the stranger was activating some kind of grappling device. No tactical grapnel launchers that he had ever seen were easily available to the public, only proving further that this person wasn't just an unscrupulous collector harboring a weird fascination with Rasputin or the occult — they were dangerous.

Amid scanning the surrounding buildings quickly in the hopes of spotting a ladder or other method of following them up onto the rooftops, more movement from above caught his eye. As soon as John looked up, a gun was being aimed in his direction, and not merely as a threat to deter him. Dammit. Before he could duck out of the way and grab his own firearm, he felt a grip on his shoulder.

He didn't know what was happening. Everything around John was shifting, altering in shape and color and clarity like he was in a kaleidoscope, and he wondered for a second if it was possible he had already been shot and he was dead. However, when his surroundings jarred back into focus, it was immediate. His feet felt firmly planted on the floor beneath him, a floor that was oddly familiar in its warm wooden tones.

The coffee shop. Customers and the barista were staring at him, yet John found his attention snapped to the hands that released him: Lorelai. Now the last few seconds made sense, even if the realization did nothing to ease the compounding confusion overtaking him. As she straightened beside him, he only found time to say her name before she had rushed outside.

Chasing after her, the bell on the cafe door ringing frantically behind him as he shoved it open, John caught no sign of her on the street. She was gone. Again. Frustration burrowed beneath his skin like an impossible itch, only exacerbated as he glimpsed the bewildered group still inside through the wide glass windows. Shit, shit, shit. He was rarely the one in these sorts of situations, and he didn't relish being forced into it now.

Not only did Lorelai run off again while John needed to handle this, but he lost the chance to follow whoever it was on the roof; what a disaster. The next while was spent speaking to the people in the coffee shop, chalking up the strange appearance within the building as a bizarre stunt accomplished through practical means. Fortunately, it had happened too quickly for anyone to film on their phone, and the human brain had a way of filling in the gaps when it didn't quite comprehend what it had seen with what made the most sense ( the cafe had a sizeable skylight the woman had used, obviously — no one just appeared out of thin air, that was ridiculous! ).

Upon gathering the contact information of everyone inside for further follow-up, he stepped once more out into the chill air. Pulling out his phone, he hit the button of the only contact he felt like speaking to at present. Hellboy picked up swiftly, and seemed to find it rather amusing that John was the one at the center of the chaos for a change. Yes, it had happened out of nowhere. No, it wasn't funny.

His free hand shoved into his coat pocket as he walked, that sense of betrayal surged through him again. Why had Lorelai done that? The obvious answered seemed ' she didn't want him to be shot, ' but he wasn't certain if that was even true. Perhaps she hadn't wished for her deal to be compromised or made too messy, and it had nothing to do with John at all.

"Yeah, well, tell the director I'll apologize in-person as soon as I get back. It doesn't matter how it happened, it was still my fault." Or he couldn't help but view it that way, at least. Maybe if he had approached it differently, none of this would have happened. "But right now, I just need to figure out what to do next. Something like this won't be enough to scare off whoever wants those documents." No, they would return for them. Would they reach back out to Lorelai to initiate another meeting? Would she reach out to them? "I have an idea of why they might need them, but I don't know who they are or what they are. They looked human, but they felt off." A very scientific method of reasoning, but John always had these intuitions about people he didn't necessarily know how to explain; it was part of what had helped him in crisis negotiations before joining the BPRD.

The sight of his breath in the air was strangely grounding at the moment as he listened to Hellboy's familiar voice traveling over the miles to reply ( that was grounding, too ). "I don't know. I don't think she's willing to talk to me." They were on different sides of this now, weren't they? Their goals were thoroughly opposite: Lorelai wanted to see her stolen goods in the hands of the buyer to make her money, while he wanted to get them back.

As it was, John wasn't sure why she had even stopped talking to him to begin with.

A pause, then the barest hint of a grin cracked across his face. "Yeah, of course." Slight teasing still tinged his tone as he tacked on, "Hey, don't make too much of a mess while I'm gone, okay?"

Once he hung up, John was on his own once more. Instead of focusing primarily on Lorelai ( she was bound to avoid him now, and it was quite impossible to look for someone who was basically capable of becoming invisible to him ), maybe he needed to pivot his attention to who she might be working for.

Returning to the alleyway where he had been whisked to the coffee shop, he found a steel ladder on the side of one of the buildings, just like he had been searching for earlier. Although he didn't anticipate that the stranger would still be hanging around, there was a chance he might find a clue of some kind. John wasted no time in climbing up, then scanning his surroundings just in case there was something.

[mogai-sunflowers]

current list of the lexic gendies im working on- feel free to send in lexic requests!

scorn, network, internet, hack, spyware, software, tomb, cemetery, pandemic, epidemic, debonair, slay, slaughter, cyber, cybersecurity, cyberspace, assassin, massacre, website, data, vendetta, fury, slasher, crime, criminal, drone, heist, fugitive, nuclear, destroy, radiation, pixel, conspiracy, saint, sinner, cookie, warp, mindwarp, malice, meat, wound, cut, gash, vampire, starve, cannibal, carnival, circus, creature, crazy, devour, dragon, witch, wizard, mage, magical, butch, twink, fag, faggot, faggy, trick, tricky, trickster, honeypie, bone, finger, decompose, shocking, electrify, wing, believe, beg, grim, gloom, it, fatal, greedy, weapon, interstellar, deadly, planetary, desperate, hatred, goddess, medieval, mortal, immortal, clock, monarch, goth, punk, pain, dungeon, prison, labyrinth, dinosaur, vindictive, psychedelic, captive, hostage, homicide, tyrant, arson, thief, acid, taunt, suicide, carcass, roadkill, scavenger, vulture, invisible, victory, loveless, heartless, turigirl, occult, poison, symbol, achillean, alive, masc, love, heart, jealousy, ace, aro, spade, ripple, skeleton, goofy, fallen, skull, spy, fae, agent, deceit, elixir, potion, disgust, extraterrestrial, bloodsucker, library, archive, locust, break, drown, phobia, liar, vigilante, technology, maggot, lethal, disease, rogue, vermin, plague, alien, frog, rip, venom, toxic, birb, snek, button, crow, heathen, crown, thorn, abuse, murderous, devil, shriek, shrivel, scream, scar, diabolical, bury, funeral, anxiety, obsession, depression, paranoia, paranoid, manipulate, martyr, blessing, trigger, sword, knight, mushroom, lesbian, sapphic, bisexual, pansexual, gay, villainous, chaotic, villain, disdain, noodle, dreadful, nugget, hideous, gruesome, morbid, ghast, ghastly, ghoul, bomb, blooper, nevermore, awful, bloodlust, bloodthirsty, disaster, omen, horrid, hellish, loathe, nasty, petrifying, shiver, shudder, scandal, scandalous, threaten, terrifying, trauma, epiphany, ephemeral, illuminate, irenic, aesthetic, blade, bleed, bloody, amnesia, needle, syringe, harvest, killer, carve, eyestrain, strangle, struggle, suffer, suffocate, sickness, guilty, fever, blame, rebellion, utopia, dystopia, idyllic, dirty, clean, cringe, cringy, delusion, delusional, hallucinate, vengeance, ravenous, beast, beastly, vague, deathcute, violence, carnage, beyond, antihero, supervillain, forevermore, rage, rampage, rainbow, hostile, risk, enemy, bloodshot, bloodshed, revenge, explode, cyborg, virus, malware, malevolent, malice, malicious

[artekai]

PLEASE PLEASE MORE DETAILS ABT KAI'S PALACE AND SHADOW 👀👀👀👉👈

OKAY OKAY OKAY HEHEHE GLADLY >:D THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ASKING FRIEND <3 <3 <3

Now get ready for the Kai Palace essay!!!! (with very special thanks to @nicxan for giving me the initial circus idea and hashing out all of the details with me, hehe <3 Love you friend!!)

Under the cut as usual :3

Okay, so let's start with the basics, shall we!! :D

Kai's sin is pride! Both because, yes, he has a big ego, has to be the center of attention at all times, and hates admitting to his mistakes in general, but also because he's unwilling to accept that he hasn't coped as well as he pretends he has. He's convinced that he's strong enough to deal with everything all on his own, and that he has to prove that he is strong enough by not asking for help. He very much believes that pain makes him stronger. That he needs to tough it up to prove himself to the world.

The distortion is a traveling circus, because 1. again, yes, he needs to be the center of attention, and, yes, he's putting on a performance in an attempt to be noticed and well-liked, 2. he has fantasized about running away and joining the circus before, dreaming of independence and broadening his horizons, and 3. he doesn't feel like he truly belongs anywhere. And yet... he always has to do everything he can to keep his loved ones near him.

I assure you, this is far from a healthy circus environment lmao.

And the location! Rumi's childhood home, of course! That's were Kai watched his family be reduced to a family of two overnight. It changed the entire paradigm!! Any sense of safety that Kai had as a kid, any reassurance that he would always have his family to rely on, any conviction that he could trust his dad to always know the right answer... Say goodbye to the innocence of childhood! It didn't help that Kai's change in demeanor also costed him his friends (the Yoshizawas included). He was truly alone in his world with only Takuto to count on :')

I sound like a broken record repeating that Kai's terrified of losing people again, haha, but it's a key element of his palace. The Ringmaster's show has to be perfect, to impress people, to entertain them, to keep them coming back.

And the troupe! Very important. The performers are all special people to Kai. People who all affect Kai's image. And they all have their own roles based on how Kai perceives them!

For example! Cognitive Ann and Ryuji are both clowns. They're fun, they're engaging, and they love to bring joy to people. Ann also does face painting!

Cognitive Akiren walks the tightrope. He's carefully balancing his double life as a phantom thief and as a "delinquent" student, and everything's on the line. One false move could mean his fall from grace.

Cognitive Yusuke does aerial acrobatics! He's graceful, elegant, artistic, gay. What else do I have to say. And Makoto does bike tricks!

Cognitive Futaba handles the holograms. You know, as in, holographic elephants, horses, and other animals! This a reference to her hacking skills but also to her being more reclusive and working her magic for the Phantom Thieves from behind the scenes.

Sumi is also there, of course. The Ringmaster KNOWS she is Sumire, and he was pissed when he first found out cognitive Takuto was encouraging her to perform as Kasumi, but she began crying and begging to be allowed to perform as Kasumi. And so, the Ringmaster caved, and now she is announced to the public as Kasumi Yoshizawa.

AND OF COURSE. Last but not least.

God, I've been DYING to talk about this man, hehehe >:)

Cognitive Takuto is the circus' usher! He's the first thing that people see when they see Kai, he brings people in with his friendly, dorky personality, he guides them to their seats, he offers them snacks, he cleans up after Kai's messes, he's overworked as fuck. The circus goers go for Takuto, and it's the Ringmaster's goal to make them stay for Kai.

As you can imagine, the usher's role is not considered a job of honor in this circus. The Ringmaster is a package of all of Kai's worst impulses, darkest feelings, and deepest fears, with none of the real Kai's restraint or moral compass. He's an absolute asshole who loves being shitty just because he can. And, well... Takuto is his personal punching bag.

I assure you, cognitive Takuto hasn't had a single fucking break in his short cognitive life.

The Ringmaster isn't afraid of blaming Takuto for everything that goes wrong in the circus, of taking out his anger on him, or of using him to set an example. Nothing Takuto does is ever good enough in the Ringmaster's eyes. If he does his job poorly, he's making Kai look bad and driving people away from the circus. If he does his job well, he's taking the spotlight away from Kai and driving people away from the circus. An usher's job is stupid no matter what, because he only brings people in but doesn't make them stay. But trying to learn skills to aim for a different role is also useless, because Takuto is inherently a liability for the circus.

If any of the performers do poorly, it must be because Takuto distracted them or gave them bad advice. If any of the performers defy the Ringmaster, it must be because Takuto is putting strange ideas in their heads and trying to turn them against Kai. The performers don't stand up for him because they're afraid of suffering the same fate as him if they do, so they just let him take the blame...

Of course, underneath of all of the rage and the smugness that the Ringmaster puts on for show, he is actually driven by pure, unfiltered fear. He's terrified of people liking Takuto more than him, and that's why he feels the need to knock him down a bunch of pegs to keep him in his place whenever he can. Takuto can't have too much power -- he already abandoned Rumi, he's at fault for all the pain Kai had to endure when losing her, so who knows who he'll take away next if the Ringmaster doesn't keep him in line?

The Ringmaster claims that the only reason he keeps Takuto around is out of pity. But, oh, you KNOW that's not the case. Although he'd rather die before admitting it, the Ringmaster needs Takuto for emotional support as much as the real Kai does (even if he goes about it in cruel ways that would horrify the real Kai...), so, if cognitive Takuto were to leave, the Ringmaster (and subsequently, the circus) would immediately begin to crumble. The circus needs cognitive Takuto so much more than the poor man has been led to believe...

And cognitive Takuto just wants to be helpful to the circus he loves so much! But every time he tries, he just gets beaten down and toyed with and told that he is a fuck-up who will never do anything right :( It has really been drilled into him, and yet he keeps trying and trying because maybe if he tries hard enough someday that will change...

God. What a sad, broken mess of a man. You have no idea how badly I want to smooch him and carry him away from the circus and show him affection and softness for the first time. Man, what a tragic character. And the worst part is that he'll never the happy ending he dreams of, because he'll disappear along with the palace as soon as any real change happens. I'm almost angry that we made him so human, lmao :')

I've also never wanted to punch and then patch up a fictional character like I wanna punch and then patch up the Ringmaster, lmao. On the one hand he makes me feel bad for the real Kai, but on the other he's tarnishing the real Kai's name and honor so :(

But hey! That's how it is sometimes with shadows and palaces! :D

And one last thing! Kai's treasure is a megaphone because Rumi made him feel heard, and he wants nothing more than to be heard and seen again. In the real world, it manifests as a family photo album that Rumi's parents gave her and that she then gave Kai. He just wants to feel like he has a family again ;-;