#TMA live notes

[fractal-voidling]

not TMA roasting Hungarian cuisine, how dare 😭

[ghost-bard]

I've had this theory for a while now, and me n my friend (@nightshadetq ) have talked about it a bit as The Magnus Protocol continues, but I really don't think Alice's indifference to the paranormal/statements/cases ect ect is proof that she like. Has no idea what's going on, or will be in for a rude awakening.

[Note: this post is not free from spoilers up to episode 18]

I think she knows a decent amount of what's actually going on, and is trying to protect Sam (or her uninformed coworkers in general) from getting in too deep.

Other than Lena, who I assume has been the boss since Alice arrived, Alice has worked at the OIAR the longest, "nearly a decade" and has consistently told Sam not to look into anything, to not be curious, and to just do his job, and those moments are when she is the most serious, an odd departure from her typical attitude, very likely a coping or defense mechanism (or survival tactic) on her part.

We also have how she and Colin interact, and her conversation with Teddy in the most recent episode (18 as of writing). While yes, her and Colin's unlikely duo could be in part simply a fun dynamic, grumpy/sunshine, whatever, but we also don't really know what has happened within the last near decade of Alice working at the OIAR. The only person Colin likes is Alice, perhaps because she's the only one he trusts, or maybe they went through something together, that's mostly speculation on my part I'll admit.

What's more interesting is Alice and Teddy's conversation, the weight of Alice calling Teddy a liar, her saying to herself for Teddy to "watch himself" because she's worried. I would point out we have no idea how long Teddy worked at the OIAR, though in episode one there's a mention of "another four years" which implies he's worked there about that amount of time, and so Alice had still worked there the longest.

Honestly it would be weird if Alice hadn't seen weird shit pre-canon given how long she's been there, and that despite the jobs turnover rate hasn't quit despite everything, almost like she's obligated, to the job perhaps not, but maybe to the other people working, given we know that people can and have quit. Of course it could also just be the getting a new job is difficult and she has a younger brother to help out occasionally, but truthfully I find it a bit difficult to believe that being the only reason she wouldn't have quit by now.

Also interesting that the only thing Alice said in response to Gwen talking about Mr. Bonzo, where Sam laughs and thinks she's joking, is after she leaves saying "Curiosity will get you killed, best try and ignore it" wherein Alice clowning on Gwen is what I, at the least, would expect in response. Yes, she questions Gwen interacting with monsters, but she doesn't push her to talk about it, and in fact, gave her an out on what the Externals are.

Considering both Gwen and Sam didn't know about them until 1. Gwen asking Lena to let her "in" and getting work about/for the Externals, and 2. Sam just now being informed. Meanwhile Alice has a fake explanation on what they are, providing Sam with said explanation, therefore shielding him from the truth of the matter, and letting Gwen not have to talk about it, only for Gwen to then say what they actually are. So either Alice already knew what an External was, and lives by the "if you don't know about the real goings on nothing will happen to you" deal and tries to act the part herself, or someone who no longer works at the OIAR AND worked with Externals told her that that was what they were, which I'll admit is also a possibility.

There is also her seeing the drowning victim and her reaction to them. Her primary issue as I remember it was the dead body, given how she implies she hadn't seen a dead body since her parents passed. However, her having a negative reaction to a dead body doesn't mean she hasn't seen other freak shit. There is also the option that she lied about not having seen a dead body since her parents, and she (rightfully) still has an averse reaction to them, though I don't necessarily believe this myself, I am presenting it as an option.

Maybe I'm talking out my ass, but I really don't think Alice has completely avoided everything up until now, especially given how weirdly cagey she is about anyone (mainly Sam, but they have a history so maybe she feels responsible for him in some way) getting curious about what they do, or wanting to look into the cases they receive. If she didn't know anything at all, I don't know why she'd care about someone getting curious about their cases, or at least care as much as she seems to.

[forgetyoursingalongsandlullabies]

John Haan to the customers of his Grill right before getting busted:

Well I’m glad you enjoyed yourselves. Maybe we should open up a bottle of dessert wine. A nice port that would complement what you have just eaten- By the way, you know what you’ve just eaten right?

Customer 1: Was it venison?

John Haan: You wish it was venison!

Customer 2 slightly shocked: Was it a horse?

John Haan: Horse! That which you have just eaten, that which your teeth have just torn apart, your taste buds have savored… that was human meat!

Customer 1 scoffing: You’re so stupid!

Customer 2 sarcastically: Oh, thank you for the human meat. It was delicious.

[tchaikovskym]

I cannot listen to the magnus archives as a normal person I have to read the wiki pages of episodes I already listened to and make notes and try to guess the entities and what they do and make a file out of it

[ask-grian]

(thats it, your going in the soup (positive) your now one of the ask blogs i interact with frequently) why would it be cursed? its just a creepy moon necless we found in my best friends office after he died. it has a weird glow.... but anyway! im glad your day is well, what are you having for supper? -@archivist-of-the-void-institute

E- Excuse me? Died? You can't just gloss over that-

[lia-the-normal-human]

ROLLLL CREDITS.

Body horror heavy series so far.

Love Tim Fearon's voice as Computer Ghost Voice 3: Cool Horror Grandpa Edition (respectfully).

[sapphorror]

Too lazy to actually go review the episodes right now, but it seems worth pointing out the scalpel was, presumably, a rare unhealing wound infused with enough Slaughter fury to mark him - so while the exact mechanics of statement hunger are nebulous, I don't think it's unreasonable to suggest that an injury like that might reset the board.

one of my pet passions for s4 is trying to figure out the exact timeline of when jon forced statements out of people, and I can never be quite sure whether the first one was between 123-124 or 124-125.

points in favor of the former: in 123 he mentions being two days out of a coma and already feeling tired, so presumably he hadn't properly fed yet and was not firing on all cylinders, meaning he would be Humgry. also, he'd probably need to go shopping to replace what got lost in the flesh attack fairly quickly after getting back, leading him to come into contact with the unfortunate cleaner. that would also make sense with what he says in 124 about simon fairchild being "an evil man tormenting and killing simply for his own pleasure, and to feed the power that sustains him," it sounds like he's projecting a bit.

points in favor of the latter: he ends 124 with that very cold conversation with martin, and having his last potential avenue for warm human contact so decisively cut off is probably as good a motive as any for going out and soul-sucking someone. it isn't until 125 that he says he finally feels "focused and ready," and his musings about the slaughter and free will are clearly pointed, particularly this bit:

I’m not sure what scares me more: the idea that deep down, everyone is in complete control of their actions, that everything is, on some level, intentional; or that ultimately we don’t have any control of ourselves at all, and the rest is just… rationalization

but that doesn't necessarily mean he took his first victim directly before this, it might have been a little while. my main point against this theory is that he takes another victim directly after melanie gets him with the scalpel, and that just seems super quick between feedings, like maybe two days, which feels like a Lot.

thoughts?

[plaidos]

because people are getting very particular and hair-splitty over transfeminist language recently, i want to reiterate that lambasting the terms TME/TMA because "anybody can be affected by transmisogyny" is intentionally missing the point (which is a material analysis of who has what relationship to transmisogyny institutionally rather than personally).

people who are "transmisogyny affected" are affected by institutional transmisogyny no matter what, no matter how well they pass or their personal situation. people who are "transmisogyny exempt" are people who can exempt themselves from institutional transmisogyny. cis women of color, for example, are often harassed in public bathrooms under the (stated) belief that they are trans, but on an institutional level they have stronger legal rights and protections against this type of discrimination and fundamentally would be able to prove themselves as cis women (& thus exempt themselves from transmisogyny). note that "transmisogyny exempt" doesn't mean "somebody who never ever experiences negative consequences from living in a transmisogynistic society" because that is probably everybody. it means people who can exempt themselves from institutional transmisogyny, not personal transmisogyny.

[fractal-voidling]

MAG086 - #9830203 │ Tucked In

I'd really appreciate if TMA didn't ruin my faith in the power of a blanket cover

[majorshatterandhare]

[ID: a screencap of a tweet from Jonny Sims (“Jonny, y’know?” @/jonnywaistcoat) from February 14, 2020, replying to himself, which reads “Firstly, an admission. I haven’t actually *read* Homestuck.” End ID]

[ilexdiapason]

wlsmp episode 3 dashboard simulator

( 0 notes )

🐺 rendog-real reblogged

🐌 snailbark Follow

THEY'RE MARRIED AND MARTYN IS THE WIFE THIS IS HOW I WIN

#wildlife spoilers

( 13 notes )

🪱 wormbarker reblogged

🐤 canarysupporter Follow

i NEED jimmy to stop dying

#wild life smp spoilers

( 8 notes )

🐸 yuriduty448

i want gem to kill everyone and turn the whole server into discord and destruction actually. with the snails

#traffic spoilers

( 26 notes )

🩵 definitelynotshouting reblogged

🦜 still-in-that-desert Follow

GRIAN RESPAWNED IN SCAR'S BED THIS IS HOW I WIN

#life series spoilers

( 41 notes )

⚔️ domeafavor-dieforme

rendog LOOOOVES pledging his allegiance to bloodthirsty women

#wlsmp spoilers

( 4 notes )

🪷 gempearlgirl reblogged

🐹 usually-posts-about-tma Follow

gem and joel were really out there living their best lives this episode ☺️ happy for them

#traffic smp spoilers

( 19 notes )

🐦 cranewiveslyric

pearl get the hell out of there girl!!!!!!!!!!!!!

#wild life spoilers

( 6 notes )

🏳️‍🌈 polytrafficshipping reblogged

🐱 jelliegirlclaws Follow

SCAR SAID HE'LL BE JIMMY'S UTILITY BELT THIS IS HOW I WIN

#traffic life spoilers

( 9 notes )

🍊 the-appreciator

idk guys i thought bigb's pov was pretty good this week

#wlsmp

( 1 note )

🐝 ilexdiapason

haha nah jk guys can you imagine

[jawbone-xylophone]

Okay time to be really opinionated: I think almost the entire TMA fandom writes Michael Distortion wrong.

Every time I read a fic about him people are emphasizing how swirly and elongated he/it is.

What's scary about Michael is that it is essentially the living personification of gaslighting. He makes everything else metaphorically swirly.

Sure there's "nobody would believe you", but most people who meet Michael think he looks angelic. He only looks scary out of the corner of your eye, or if he's feeding you just enough truth to get your guard down. He's fun to draw and describe as a psychedelic nightmare, but he is basically the gaslighting demon. It's a polite young man with curly hair and a beautiful smile who you could absolutely take home to meet your mother.

You only know he's a monster because your lizard brain starts screaming.

On a related note, its portfolio also includes dissociation and hallucinations, and nobody takes enough advantage of that– like, kissing Michael. Lots of people describe kissing Michael as a very physical event with notes of static and that tingling sensation of limbs falling asleep. A good start, but my argument: you feel him smooching your cheek and giving your hand a cute little squeeze, despite the fact that he's across the room ordering a coffee. It feels so real. You can feel his callouses catching at your fingers, but no matter how you flex your hand there's nothing there but air. You don't know if you just want it that badly and your eyes are lying, or what. He brings you a coffee and the sensation vanishes.

I know exactly what that episode about "the man who wasn't there" was because I've experienced it, and nobody utilizes that enough. Have you ever closed your eyes and tried to walk through a room, and been Firmly Convinced there was an object in front of you you were about to run into, despite no evidence of such an object when you open your eyes? It's a little like that. Any sort of relationship with Michael Distortion (not recommended and likely a way it has killed many people) would involve you getting comfortable with the fact that your senses are lying to you at an exponentially increasing rate, like a frog slowly being boiled alive.

Is he there? Is he not? Does it matter? You feel loved. You remember being told good morning and eating a homemade breakfast. Did you actually? Maybe it's a memory from a year ago you only think is from this morning. He's adorable even if his laugh gives you tinnitus. Maybe you've always had migraines. He takes care of you through them. Can you remember what he does to take care of you? ....normal people stuff, probably. Ice packs. You think he brought you ice packs once. You're sitting at a bus stop, going... somewhere, for a reason you're sure, and your body is telling you you're sitting on his lap but you keep checking, tapping with your nails, and the seat is hard metal. Does it matter? Maybe it really is him. You'd prefer if it was him. These cute little hallucinations are his way of showing affection. It's comfortable, even when the city shuts off your water because you only thought you paid your bills. He gives you his coat in the rain, and you laugh together and run through the weather, but when you get home you're holding a stranger's purse full of cash instead of a coat and you have no idea why. It's his idea of affection, though. He says he loves you when you ask about it, anyway, and don't you need the money now?

He's a lovely young man and the only normal thing in a world gone mad. The gloves only come off when it's done playing with its food.

[leoremin]

This is how The Magnus Archives go, right?

Slurp Slurp

(in case anyone can't read my handwriting, the text on the left says "Lived through Trauma" and the one next to Jon says "Slurp")

Currently on 146. I love these little podcast men

I have a little trouble sometimes discerning between Melanie and Basira. Wait...I think I just figured it out. Melanie was trapped there by Elias and Basira joined after she quit being a cop?? Is that right?? I hope so. I already have a canvas that is pure TMA notes bc im so bad at remembering things. It's working though! I'm actually keeping what I think I know in order!!!

[endstatement]

AND AGAIN BC IT IS FULL OF SPOILERS. it is the word “vague” foR A REASON!!!

needless to say if you haven’t listened to tmagp 17 don’t go in there.

some of yall do not understand how to use the vague tag

[wurmeon]

Best friend started listening to TMA after hearing me not shut up about it for years (and spoiling a lot of it) and the discord live tweeting has been unparalleled

Notes:

-Jon rapping is the single most original tma take ive ever witnessed

-def going to draw elias putting out a cig on jon, sorry jon its really funny

-Wanting Gertrude: based and honorable

[beveverage]

Wow okay I have a lot of thoughts about TMAGP 39.

(including spoilers for both TMA and TMP! Proceed with caution!)

Essay below the cut:

Upon being introduced to TMAverse Alice, I was honestly a little disappointed we actually got to meet her, and as her story became clear I was worried this would add to the vibe of "TMA content is more interesting than the TMP stuff we're technically here for."

...but after the full episode I think her inclusion subverts that really, really well, and actually makes me care even more about the Protocol universe and its characters. Because TMA Alice is a shell of a person. She has nothing left. She's lost everyone, she's not taking care of herself ("I don't eat much"), and she willingly subjects herself to recurring nightmares of literal hell because it's easier than living in her new reality.

And that's partly got a note of tragic foreshadowing to it--it's easy to see how TMP Alice could fall down the same path, with how much she's already losing herself trying to unravel the mystery of what happened to Colin and Sam. But even moreso, it shows us how lucky she is. Maybe she's stuck in a dead end job, maybe she and Sam aren't together anymore, maybe her coworkers are being eaten by computers. But she's alive, she has something to live for, she has people that care about her, and she still has agency over herself. And while things could still get much worse, she has hope, opportunity. We just met an Alice at the end of her life, but our Alice still has a future.

I'm realizing the point of TMA content in Protocol isn't just to indulge in fanservice and continue that old story. It's to remind us of what's at stake. In the TMA universe, nobody gets happy endings. The world wasn't saved by a long shot--maybe burning it out would have been a mercy. And without that perspective, it'd be easy for TMP characters to make the same mistakes, to destroy themselves and others while tampering with things beyond their understanding. The Archives crew never really grasped how unimaginably awful the outcome of their failures could be. But maybe if Sam makes it back, knowing what lies on the other side, knowing how lucky he is to be where he is and to have what he does...maybe that will make a difference.

Maybe.