#and a line i misremembered as ''as if he had anything to do with it'' which was already always funny to me

[unproduciblesmackdown]

ten drawings and like twelve seconds of the song into this whodunit? project, determinedly progressing....and for fun, i was like, okay put Anything else into zeke’s locker / give it Any flair, like, always striking for a balance b/w not making things too difficult but not like cutting all corners & fully avoiding what i think would be fun &/or just good to include

mainly had the spontaneous idea for like, put a poster/pic in there somewhat horror related, i was gonna do something kind of Scary Generic like a haunted house & then had the insight like oh hey make it hopefully evocative of the cover illustration for the first goosebumps book “welcome to dead house”

and then added a kermit the frog keychain, fun anyways, and a bit of a shoutout to an element of the book in zeke’s like immediate introduction lol

kind of the best of both worlds when it occurs to me to have something be kind of an easter egg / reference to Something touched on in any of this material, like also made sure to get zeke’s locker number right (or rather make the locker to the left One Number Below the number given in the musical synopsis (no locker number’s given in the book) to imply his correct locker number, but probably i’ll show the closed locker door also) which is itself an easter egg reference to how many years ago the events of The Legend occurred (in the musical), because coming up with such details wholecloth is a trial i might just otherwise avoid completely, and then idk i think it’s fun. like, i’ve read welcome to dead house, classic. i’ve also now read phantom of the auditorium lol and it’s always a great time, r.l. stine always talking about how he thinks that wtdh as the first book is a bit too scary and/or not yet tempered enough with humor, and pota makes me laugh aloud like every page. a delight

[mountainmoth]

I really want to stress here (as one duped):

It is not a moral failing on you if you didn't notice James Somerton Bad

His videos are well produced. His narration is convincing. He's a marketer, of course he knows how to make a video sell. His videos are impactful because the writing (stolen) is academic (and stolen) and emotionally moving (because they are stolen). The text is good, interesting text (as it is not his), of course he would be catapulted into high views. Of course people will be duped.

I for one feel very stupid at the moment because I was a long term fan of his. Being dyslexic a lot of sources were ones I had seen but couldn't really interact with, so when I heard James Somerton narrating them I didn't think anything of it. His woman bashing felt... Off, but surrounded by sensitive think pieces (from other people) on queer identity (that other people experience) I thought it was just one or two poorly phrased lines. His lie about Radclyffe Hall was one I spotted because I'm incredibly passionate about butch lesbian history. I assumed he misremembered. I'm saddened to see it compiled that it was not the case.

This sucks. It does. His video on deep cuts inspired me massively (and I'm thankful I now know who actually inspired me!): it got me into the Scream franchise, it got me into horror as a whole, it's collided me with some of my favourite media analyses (who I can now accurately name).

The most we can do from here is divert our attention now. Find the creators who were stolen from and spotlight their work. Watch the celluloid closet. Go through Hbomberguy's playlist on other gay creators (https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRGz5EMig3r2ZDgeGzwUlSz-PzF-L1Xu1&si=f63gIa7OS0aoS5RQ)! We can, ultimately, turn this around I think.

[enjoyerofsoup]

/// general riptide spoilers ???

just got to ep 93 of riptide on my relisten (when finn wakes up) and i can’t stop thinking about how during the feywild arc, when celestine was assessing the magic involved in apple’s transmutation spell, necromancy was one of the types listed.

when gillion finally gets through to the unconscious finn using the bracelets, finn keeps talking about his spell, asking if it worked, if it protected his crew. it’s clear that the spell finn had been casting (over the course of 100 years supposedly) was incredibly important, and likely the reason he ended up trapped as a bird. clearly finn had some knowledge of what may happen, considering he started preparing so far in advance. it might be part of the reason he left the undersea in the first place. but after waking up, with the spell’s resulting mental deterioration, he can’t provide the answers he may have once had.

(something about the spell feels very reminiscent of a deal. finn trading his knowledge and intellect, whether he did so intentionally. something he dedicated his life to. him being able to protect his crew, to a certain extent. and when he finally gets to see that his spell worked (?) he might not fully remember it’s significance. might not remember what he wanted. why he made that choice.)

during my relisten, i’ve really taken note that whenever any of the black rose crew are talking about the hole in the sea and what they remember, there’s some pretty big gaps in memory. they all recall falling unconscious at one point or another, and waking up somewhere else. drey struggles to remember a lot after being in the block so long. finn’s memory is waning, either from age or the effects of his spell. and initially, when chip talks about that day, he’s confident in what he remembers, and doesn’t seem to dwell much about losing consciousness and how he eventually ended up at skullslice port.

but when finn wakes up, and chip gets the third part of the map tattooed on his back, everyone’s confused. why wouldn’t it be on arlin, like they’d thought? why now?

drey says something along the lines of “why chip, though? he wasn’t even down there with us. you weren’t there, right chip?”

and chip doesn’t say anything.

i think the reason there’s so many gaps in memory is that maybe none of the black rose pirates made it out. maybe there’s a reason necromancy was involved in finn’s spell.

(THESE ARE THE RAMBLINGS OF A MADMAN BTW I DO NOT CLAIM TO HAVE A THEORY AND I MIGHT HAVE COMPLETELY MISREMEMBERED SHIT BUT I AM FULL OF SO MANY THOUGHTS)

[ot3]

Just curious, what’s your opinions on Kristoph and Phoenix? I see you reblog ship posts about them sometimes and I’m really curious about your opinions on their dynamic both inside and outside of ship stuff, because I didn’t really know how to interpret Kristoph in particular. I think he’s one of the worse villains in AA tbh, it’s been a while so I may be misremembering, but I just didn’t… get that much substance from him?

kristoph is certainly a really hard character for me to fully develop an opinion on in isolation. i think the only area where i'm capable of saying anything about him i can back up with significant references to the text is in regard to his relationship with phoenix, because that's where the meat of his character interactions are. and more broadly because as a #phoenixhead my primary means of looking at the entire franchise is how things relate to phoenix. if you'd like to read about my interpretation of phoenix and kristoph's relationship more specifically i've got a post on that subject here. i think it's a character dynamic that has a TON going for it relative to the screentime if you're able to disregard fanon and look directly at what's in the text.

but more on kristoph individually

kristoph suffers from the same thing that all of aa4's major characters and plotlines do: not getting another game. there was clearly more to the gavin brothers' story we didn't get and will never get, and knowing that there's Something there we have absolutely no means of predicting or unraveling makes it hard to theorize. he kind of exists in a quantum state for me where i can see a ton of alternate perspectives on his character's complexities and just buy whichever one i'm feeling at a given moment. i personally wouldn't say he lacks substance because every interaction he has with any other character is, imo, very compelling and gives me a lot to chew on. but he's a character that's all questions and no real conclusions for sure.

i don't think he's a cackling machiavellian serial abuser. i think hes easily the kind of person who has the capacity to be emotionally abusive and manipulative to the people closest to him without being Pure Evil. because we have so little on him it's very easy to portray kristoph as the kind of sinister that provides whatever OP's favorite flavor of angst is. and i'm certainly no exception to that; i just happen to be a person who is into maybe some subtler flavors.

he's both one of ace attorney's most calculated villains, with poisoning vera's nailpolish being an incredibly cold maneuver that suggests a lot of foresight, and one of ace attorney's most brutal murderers, capable of getting aggressive enough in a moment to bludgeon a man to death with a bottle. i think kristoph can be understood as a character whose primary motivation is control, both over himself and others. there's that critical line in turnabout succession where he tells klavier he's out of control, and klavier says "whos control? mine, or yours?" his reputation is built on his ability to stay calm under pressure, and his ability to stay calm under pressure is built on his tendencies to preemptively engineer situations in his favor. the stuff with phoenix and the gramarye case represents what we can presume to be the biggest failure of his career.

i think this puts him very much in line with AA1's main villains. people like to compare him to dahlia a lot for obvious reasons and there's some fun to be had there but i think it lets people overlook how well he ties into AA1. redd white controlled the press and controlled the judges to get away with his blackmail ring. von karma controlled the witnesses to engineer his perfect cases. damon gant controlled the police and the evidence, and then controlled lana to control the prosecution. although those were all one-case villains i think kristoph justifies his larger scope in aa4 by the significant and longstanding personal connections he has to the rest of the main cast. kristoph represents the mirror image of those AA1 villains; aa1 shows the way the deck is stacked against the defense. kristoph shows what it looks like when someone tries to stack it in the other direction

i think kristoph plays an important part in the larger franchise by showing what corruption looks like from the defense's bench, and how this corruption takes a different cadence when it lacks the systemic power that the villains like gant had. i think his cold, calculated approach to defense works well as a foil to the type of defending we saw from phoenix who is all heart and charges in head first. i think apollo works well representing a sort of compromise between the two, being a little bit shrewder than phoenix but no less earnest. i think klavier, then, as a prosecutor who is much less aggressive than the previous 3 both personally and professional serves to further invert the expectations set by the trilogy in a way that's really satisfying.

is kristoph missing some pretty critical backstory that i would love to see? yeah. absolutely. but i think when you look at him as a story device rather than an underdeveloped character he adds a tonnnnn to the series. that said, i will die wondering.

[poppyseed799]

What are life series things that happened in the series but you never/hardly see them used in fan content, and wish they were?

I’ll go first with the two that come to my mind immediately, both having Martyn for some reason:

- 3rd Life, Scott’s final death, when Martyn and Ren were chasing him, but Martyn wasn’t red so he couldn’t hurt Scott and instead tried to slow him down so Ren could catch him. One of Martyn’s attempts to get Scott to stop running (and the last one before Ren killed Scott I think!) was yelling stuff along the lines of “come here and give me a hug! I wanna cuddle before you die!” And I’ve never been the same since but nobody has done anything with it. Mean gills fans, I’m begging you. I don’t even care WHAT you do with this. Just anything.

- Double Life, we all know the boat boys died to that portal trap. People do plenty of fan content surrounding that. But what I DON’T see a lot of is the fact that Martyn went through the same portal trap, accidentally stumbling across the mine craft equivalent of their corpses. Pretty sure he got in the same spot Joel died. So Martyn’s “allies” (exes) had to pull him out of a crime scene. I’m like. Silently losing my mind about it and I don’t see any fan content with it. Martyn being stuck with Joel’s burning body in the portal trap that smelted Etho.

EDIT: SO I DOUBLE CHECKED AND I MISREMEMBERED. THEIR STUFF WAS NOT STILL THERE, IDK WHY I THOUGHT IT WAS. Making up memories fr 😭 but it’s still the same portal so yeah 😁

Please add anything that you personally think about a lot, any minor details that you think are neat or major things that happened that you’re honestly quite offended nobody’s done anything with. Anything you can think of.

[mehbzz]

do you think the boys would be into period sex? billy i can see being kinda weirded out at first but easily swayed by all the blood. stu… well, you know hes down, but they’d both have to hide just how much theyre into it

(also pardon me if you’ve talked about this before n im misremembering!!)

18+ Period sex/oral, dubcon toeing the line of noncon, anal sex, toxic relationship

Stu x Billy and Stu x Billy x F!reader.

----------------

The desk was smacking against the wall almost violently, and Stu felt an odd twisted sense of glee that his mother would probably notice the damage. The wood was warm beneath him as Billy fucked him over it, papers and pens still clattering to the floor with every thrust. Stu had lost the chase but he couldn’t really find it in himself to be disappointed about it.

“Caught you fair and square,” Billy panted. He kept a hand firmly planted on Stu’s back, nails digging into his skin and keeping him pinned down against the desk. “Thought you knew how to survive a horror movie?”

Stu clenched his teeth biting back the whimpers that threatened to escape his throat. It was too quick, too much, with not even close to enough prep, but Billy’s needling about him failing to escape was hurting him more.

“Even bunny lasted longer than you,” Billy’s breath was heavy, his voice strained. “But gotta admit I do like your ass better.”

Stu choked down a whine as Billy’s hips pressed hard against his ass, cock pressing deep, too deep, his nails scratching in to the varnish of the desk.

“Shame I dropped the knife, really want to mark you up right now. Did I tell you I fucked her with it?” Billy leans down, his chest flush against Stu’s back as he whispers and Stu feels his balls tighten and throb at the memory. “came around that fucking knife like she’d never had anything better.”

“Fuck Bill,” He knew, of course he did. Billy had recounted the story to him numerous times, the first time he’d heard it Billy had his cock buried so far down his throat he’d nearly blacked out.

 “So quiet baby, you not enjoying yourself?” Billy pulls back and thrusts forward hard. “rather be on your knees? Want me to make you choke on it instead?”

“You talk too much,” Stu groaned, his breath was quickening just at the thought of it. “Monologuing while getting fucked is kind of a turn off you know?”

Billy didn’t seem to appreciate that, a series of abrupt thrusts forcing a cry from his throat.

“Aw there we go. You moan so pretty for me,” Billy’s hand smacking hard across his ass at his displeased sound. “You lost the game. If this had been real you’d been gutted and bleeding out right now.”

The moan Stu let out was loud, his momentary annoyance lost at the thought of it. Caught, covered in blood, bleeding out while Billy fucked him, his cock throbbing painfully with the image.

“You cheated.” The lack of control is starting to niggle at him, as is Billy’s smugness at catching him. Stu slips one hand between his legs, half expecting Billy to tell him to stop, the relief when he doesn’t sending shivers down his spine. Forehead dropping to rest against the desk as he stroked his hand up and down his cock, closing his eyes as he jerked himself in time with Billy’s thrusts.

“Cheated? You ran upstairs dumbass,” Billy’s thrusts turning slow and so deep that Stu felt like he could feel it in his stomach. “Stupid mistake, I’m embarrassed for you.”

“Totally my plan,” Stu pants, nails scratching deeper into the varnished desk as he tries to control his breathing, the slow deep roll of Billy’s hips starting to cross the line into genuinely uncomfortable. “Had to get you active. You've been moping after bunny all week. It’s boring.” There's a touch of genuine bitterness to his words that he's a little annoyed with himself he couldn't hide.

“You don’t miss her too?” Billy asks and Stu shakes his head automatically before the question truly registers. “Really? You don’t miss our pretty pliant little bunny? The way she squirms and whimpers?”

“Fuck-, shut up,” Stu’s cock jumps and twitches hard at Billy’s words. “Miss that pussy maybe.” He forces himself to answer, although he doesn’t sound as convincing as he’d like. Because he does. He does fucking miss you and he hates it. Even breaking in to your house and railing Billy in your bed had done nothing but make him miss you more. He wants to bend you over his knee and spank you for every day you’ve been gone, force you down onto his bed and eat you out until you scream for him. His spiraling thoughts about everything he wants to punish you with pushing him close to the edge too fast and too hard, his hand tightening around his cock, squeezing himself tightly and forcing himself to calm down.

“You sound a little bitter,” Billy sighs, words breathless and almost slurring together in that way that Stu knows means he’s getting close. “You jealo-,”

“I’m not jealous.” He answers too quick, the words tumbling out of his mouth before Billy’s finished speaking. He's not jealous. He’s just a little annoyed at the lack of attention he’s being getting, that’s all.

Billy slows even more, his pace faltering and shallow. That annoys him even further because he doesn't want Billy to notice how he’s actually feeling.

“Tired out already? Need me to take over?” He tries to fuck back against him but Billy grips his hips and pulls slightly away.

“You don’t need to be jealous,” Billy drags his fingertips down Stu’s spine. “you're mine Stu,” digging his nail into his skin to scratch along the faint white B that lived at the bottom of his spine. “You’re marked as mine.”

Stu wants to respond, wants to snap back but all that leaves his throat is a desperate moan. It’s embarrassing how quickly that word can unravel him, and he’s pretty sure Billy knows it too. As Billy’s hips start to move again Stu’s mind goes blissfully blank, the pleasure finally reaching snapping point and his back arching as he came, hand tight around his cock and shooting white ropes across the carpeted floor.

“Fuck me.” He mumbles, he feels shaky, a slight tremble in his legs that has him glad Billy hasn’t pulled away from him. “Jesus Bill.”

“All right?” Billy murmured, in that soft oh so quiet tone that Stu loathed and loved in equal measure, the tone that seemed to be reserved for him and bunny alone.

Shut up. Shut up is what he wants to say but he just grunts, burying his head in his hands. He shifted his hips and winced, somewhere during his mind blinding orgasm Billy must have cum too, he feels wet and sticky, even though Billy is still buried deep.

Billy murmurs something softly again as he pulls his cock out slowly, although he doesn’t move away completely, keeping his pelvis flush against Stu’s ass as his thumbs stroke idly across his hips.

“Still can’t believe you ran upstairs.”

Stu shrugged, not bothering to try and stand up from his bent position, lifting his head to rest on his palm with a sigh. “Panicked.”

“Panicked?” Billy sounds incredulous, he moves away and Stu bites down the urge to drag him back, instead turning his head to watch as Billy leans back against the desk, close but not quite touching him.

“Plead the fifth,” Stu mutters. He doesn’t want to talk anymore and Billy doesn’t push it. He stands slowly, stretching his arms high above his head with a groan. He can feel Billy’s gaze on him and he’d be lying of he said he didn’t flex, just a little. Tilting his head and cracking his neck, definitely not showing off the smooth column of his throat as he does so and defiantly not enjoying the definite hitch in Billy’s breathing as he watches. The one place Billy so desperately wanted to mark up and the one place he absolutely couldn’t. Neck and collarbones. A weakness in Billy that he took great joy in teasing and tempting him with.

“Wanna shower with me?”

Stu doesn’t answer, the sudden invading thought of what would his mother think if she came home and found the two of them naked in her office making him pause, his gaze lingering on the mess he’d left on the carpet. Billy would never let that happen, but the chaos that would ensue would be fascinating to witness.

“Stu?”

“Yeah, sure,” He kills that thought before he feels too tempted to try and let it happen, turning his head so he can look at the mask lying in the corner of the room where it had been haphazardly thrown. “And next time you’re leaving it on.”

The sounds of voices from your kitchen takes you a little by surprise. You recognize Stu’s voice immediately, dread pooling low in your gut. You weren’t supposed to see him or Billy until later that evening, and You had  long ago made him promise not to turn up unannounced. You really should have known better than to trust he’d stick to that promise.

You take a deep breath as you enter your kitchen, stopping as you see Stu chatting animatedly with your dad. your gaze lingers warily on the open can of Jolt sat next to him, seems like the lazy afternoon you were hoping for was not going to happen.

Your dad looks disinterested and is focused on the paperwork in his hands with a barely concealed look of annoyance that Stu seems oblivious to. perched on the edge of the kitchen stool with one knee bouncing quickly up and down, he seems filled with more hyper energy than usual, making you wonder just how many of those drinks he’d actually had.

You both want and don’t want to interrupt the conversation, in all honesty you want to cancel your plans with Stu and Billy and just go to bed, even though it had been a week since you’d seen either of them, and you know full well that they are going to be sulky about the fact that you had to work on your first morning back. You shift awkwardly, gripping your keys a little harder as another cramp tugs and pulls low in your abdomen. Your period had taken you by surprise this morning during your shift, having no choice but to use one of the cheap uncomfortable pads from the women’s restroom. You take a deep breath, entering the kitchen and your heart skipping a beat in mild alarm as Stu instantly swivels in his seat to look at you.

“You kept in touch?” Your dad asks, he hasn’t acknowledged your hello and you try to not let that sting, the conversation you’re interrupting apparently one about your recent trip. “She was only gone a week.”

“I had one phone call.” Stu’s gaze is fixated on you, and you don’t miss the blatant disappointed emphasis he puts on one.

“Oh good.” Your dad is obviously disinterested in the whole situation, already focusing back on the papers and files in front of him.

“Yeah she rang pretty late, but woo boy was she-,”

“Sorry I’m late, we should get going right? The others will be waiting.” Embarrassment flares, your face heating to an unbearable degree as it dawns on you what Stu is talking about. The need to get him out of your house overriding your desire to make yourself more comfortable first.

“Aw but I was just telling your dad what-,”

“He’s busy, and we'll be late.” You tug at his arm and he immediately tries to intertwine your fingers with his. You pull away quickly, giving him a small shake of your head as you glance back at your Dad, who thankfully is still riveted to the paperwork in front of him. “I’ll be back late ok?”

Your dad gives you a distracted wave goodbye and thankfully Stu follows obediently behind you.

“You dick.” You smack his chest with the back of your hand as you pull the front door closed.

“What?” He rubs his chest before his hands are reaching out for you again, skimming down your sides to hook into the waistband of your jeans. “Just wanted your dad to know how sweet it was.” 

“Can you stop with the touching?” You bat at his hands again, sighing when he ignores your request.

“Can’t control my hands,” He tugs hard on your belt loop, pulling you back into his chest and leaning down to nuzzle into your neck. “You’re looking foxy as hell right now.”

It takes an immense amount of willpower to pull away from him, but the first lick of his tongue across your skin does make you move. “We’re outside,” You dodge his attempt to touch you again.  “And what was sweet?”

“You being away but still thinking about me. How you missed me. And my di-,”

“You better not have said that to my Dad!” You glare at him and he laughs.

“C’mon it was hot, hearing you get off like that. I could hear how we-,” He trails off with a grin as you hiss at him to shut up, giving him the finger over your shoulder as you start to walk down the road. “Fine fine.” His arm snakes around your waist, hand dipping into the back pocket of your jeans and giving you a quick squeeze. You don’t immediately pull away this time. It’s risky but it does feel good to have him touching you, to have him so obviously wanting you. “Glad youre back though bunny, Bill been driving me crazy with his moody ass.”

“He’s always moody,” You tease but Stu just shrugs, and you smile drops slightly. “Did something happen?”

“Yeah, you left us.”

You blink, a little take a back. “I didn't leave you, I went on holiday.”

“Left, holiday, Whatever,” He waves his free hand in the air, dismissing your words. “You left, he crashed. He's gone all tortured artist, sulky, wont play with me, reading shit about men turning into bugs.”

“I- what?” You frown. “Bugs?” 

“I mean it's hot, it suits him but fuck it’s boring.”

You don't know what to say, concerned and confused in equal measure, but Stu doesn't seem to care .

 “So you gonna tell me about this Trevor?”

You frown up at him, the angle a little awkward with him so close, a little thrown off by his abrupt subject change. “What about him?”

“Curious who my babygirl hangs out with.” There’s a hint in his voice, something that sounds a little annoyed, even jealous as he speaks. “Your dad said you spent a lot of time with him.”

“You’re not serious?” It hits you the wrong way, and adds fuel to something you’d been noticing for a while, Stu’s seemingly growing possessiveness. Possessiveness you didn’t think he deserved to voice considering he was the one with the girlfriend. Hypocrite you think but don’t say it out loud. He looks disappointed when you step away from his side, the groping of your ass getting a little too over the top for walking in public. “Werent you just worried about Billy?”

“Bun bun,” He pokes your cheek, making you flinch. “You’re back, he’ll get over it, so tell me all the gory details.” His teasing tone feels a little flat, the shortened version of your nickname also only making an appearance when he was upset with you but trying to be subtle about it.

“Don’t do that Stu,” You swat his hand away as you fight to keep your tone calm but it doesn’t quite work, frustration lacing into your words. “There’s no details to share. He’s practically family.”

"Not actually family though."

You sigh, wincing as another cramp stabs at your insides; you thought they had finally eased. “No, not actually.”

“So? What did you to get up to?”

"Are you really being serious right now? He's my Uncle’s friend.” He nods but doesn’t comment, his raised eyebrows letting you know he’s expecting more. “He gave me a ride a couple of times, he came to family dinner. Family dinner. Because he is family.”

"I bet he wanted to give you a ride alright," Stu waggles his eyebrows. It feels wrong. His attempt at teasing you not matching the glint in his eye. It feels vaguely threatening.

“For fucks sake," You fight to keep the annoyed tone out of your voice. You don’t want to deal with this. You want a hot shower aand to curl up under a ton of blankets.  “If I want to hang out with someone then I will thank you very much.”

“Two dicks not enough for you anymore?”

"Wow, ok,” His words hurt, you can’t tell if it’s an ill judged attempt to tease you or if he’s actually accusing you of something. “Fuck you too. You’re not seriously jealous?" The accusation escapes you before you have time to think it through. “You really want me to spell it out for you again? He’s family.” You finally snap, cutting off whatever he’d been about to say. He shuts his mouth with a look of surprise at your outburst.

“Jeez relax, overreaction much? I’m only teasing,” His eyebrows raise and you can tell he’s trying not to roll his eyes. “Sorry for taking an interest.”

“Interest? You were just accusing me of-,”

“I wasn’t accusing you of anything,” Stu shoves his hands in his pockets, his eyes wide. “I was only asking what you got up too.”

“You-, whatever,” You wave your hand dismissively, trying not to wince as another cramp makes your insides twist painfully. “I had a good time, I’m glad to be home, let’s just drop it ok?”

It lapses into silence again, and you try not to make eye contact with him but you can feel him watching you intently, his surprised look replaced by that carefully blank mask that Billy is so good at. You hate it on both of them.

“You ok bunny?” He pokes at your cheek, grinning wide when you swat him away. The sudden flip in his attitude throwing you for a second. “You seem a little grumpy.”

“Fu-,” You click your tongue. “I’m fine. Can we just go? I want to see Billy.”

Stu stares at you for a beat longer before he shrugs. “Sure,” he bows low, arm sweeping out in front of him as he holds that infuriating grin. “Lead the way.”

“You’re early.” Billy rubs a hand over his face as he sits up from his place on the bed, rubbing his palm across his face as he scoots to the edge of the bed. He looks exhausted and his slow clumsy movements hit you with a sudden rush of affection. You smile softly at him as you come to stand between his knees. Billy glances up at you with slight tilt of his head, he doesn’t look particularly happy to see you and a little knot of guilt starts to form in the pit of your stomach.

“I wanted to see you,” You falter slightly when he doesn’t respond. “How’s the bug man?”

“What?” The look of confusion that flits across Billy’s face has you biting back a laugh, his eyes narrowing at you before he glances over to Stu. “What have you been telling her?”

“Nothing man, not a thing, just you know, about the whole Eric Draven vibe you’ve had going on.”

Billy tenses.

“I missed you.” You cup his face, drawing his attention back to you and interrupting their bickering before it can escalate. You did miss him but his reserved welcome has thrown you off a little. You lean down and kiss him on the cheek, but it doesn’t get the reaction you were hoping for, moving to press a tentative kiss to his mouth instead. “I missed you a lot last week.” It seems to work, his hands finally reaching up to rest on your waist with a soft sigh.

 “I missed you too,” Billy murmurs. His tongue darts across your bottom lip before dipping slightly into your mouth. Its an odd kiss, feels more like he’s tasting you than kissing you, but you let him do what he wants. Humming contently as he flicks across your bottom teeth, he tastes like beer with a hint of cigarette smoke. You grimace slightly but bite down the urge to tell him off fro obviously smoking when he'd promised you he wouldn’t anymore.

"I missed you so damn much," He repeats, the kiss switching into something a little rougher as he nips at you, his hands tugging at the hem of your t-shirt, a move you try to stop before it goes too far. You break the kiss, gently pushing against his arms, straightening up and moving slightly out of his hold. The argument with Stu has left you feeling a little bitter, has soured your mood and reunion with them more than you thought it had. Billy picks up on your unease, he always does, and his face shutters, going blank as he shifts his weight, giving you no choice but to take a step back from him.

“I didn’t get that kind of welcome,” Stu moves up behind you and loops his arms round your waist, hooking his chin over your shoulder and one hand dipping under your t-shirt to rest over your ribs. “Where’s my kiss?”

“Don’t,” You grip his wrist, stopping him from touching you any further.  The cramps were getting worse; you didn’t want things to escalate, you just wanted to curl up into a ball and sleep. “I’m not in the mood.”

“Sure looked like it. You’re so snappy today,” Stu huffs into the side of your neck, annoyed at your reluctance, even Billy looks a little offended. “Is it that time of the month?”

“You’re just annoying.”   

“See, snappy.”

Billy’s gaze briefly flickers over you, you know him well enough to know that he’s perceived your reluctance to go further than kissing him as a rejection, his gaze a little cold before he focuses on Stu. “What did you do?”

“Hey, I did nothing. Our moody girl here jumped down my throat,” Stu rest his chin on your shoulder, one hand trying to dip inside your panties and you dig your nails into his wrist in an effort to stop him. “I was only asking her about her holiday.”

“You were not-,” Your look at Billy makes you pause and the guilt flares in your chest, he looks hurt and tired and you just want to start this whole day over. “Ok fine I’m sorry for jumping down your throat. Can we drop it now?” You wince as another cramp hits you, body curling back against Stu like you could move away from it. “And you know what? Yes. I am on my period and it fucking hurts ok?”

It’s silent for a few seconds, for some reason expecting them to withdraw from you but Stu’s grip tightens rather than lets you go. “You’re in pain?” He sounds a little too excited as he asks you that. “Orgasms are supposed to help with that you know,” He takes your momentary surprise to slip his hand out from your grip to press tightly against your abdomen. “I could make you feel better?”

“No.” He gives in to your attempts to escape his hold, letting go of you only long enough to grip you hips and spin you round to face him.

“C’mon, I missed you,” He presses a kiss to your lips that you refuse to return. “And you snapped at me. You hurt my feelings bunny.”

“Because you’re a jealous asshole,” Your words are muffled against his mouth but he hears you, nipping sharply at your bottom lip in retaliation. Hard enough for you to jerk back out of his hold and straight into Billy’s chest.

He grunts softly as he loops his arms round your waist, holding you firm against his chest.  “Don’t be mean, she’s in pain,” Billy mumbles as he speaks, you can tell how tired he is but you can feel how hard he is too, pressing against you as he holds you tight.

“Can we take a time out?” You thread your fingers through Billy’s but he seems less inclined to let you go than Stu had. “I am in pain and you’re making me a little uncomfortable here.”

“Uncomfortable?” Billy repeats dully and a little weight of dread drops in your stomach. “You were all over me a minute ago.”

The atmosphere is off. It’s not the ‘welcome home we missed you’ meet up you’d been hoping for. Between Stu’s amped up hyperness from earlier and Billy’s coldness, they seem unhappy with you and its putting you on edge. Stu softly grips your jaw, guiding your chin up to look at him before you can explain yourself. “You’re really bleeding?” Stu keeps hold of your jaw but lets his free hand rest against your hip. You nod reluctantly. “That’s what a period means genius.”

“Explains your moodiness.” Stu mutters, sliding his hand across your abdomen, and tugging at your jeans zipper, you move quick, latching onto his wrist with a firm grip that he ignores.

“Can we stop now?” You arch a little against Billy’s hold, freezing when you brush back against his cock. “Seriously I don’t-, I don’t like this.”

“I missed you though,” Stu pauses in his exploration of your zipper. “and I want to make you feel better.”

He tugs at your jeans again and you let go of his wrist, against your better judgement, trying to ignore the alarm bells going off in your head and the little voice that was helpfully pointing out that you were outnumbered here. hoping that maybe when he sees the unsexy sight of your old underwear that he’ll give up.

It doesn’t, he looks completely fascinated as he lets your jeans pool at your feet, his fingers hooking into the waistband of your panties and you squeeze you legs together before he can pull them off too. “Don’t.”

“It’ll help. Let me help you,” Stu’s fingers tap impatiently on your thigh. “It’s been a week, a whole week without you. I really really need you right now.”

“It’s ok. It’s just a little blood bunny,” Billy whispers into your ear, his hands sliding down your thighs and pushing gently, encouraging you to spread your legs. “Let Stu help you out, it’ll make you feel better.”

You don’t want to, but the want to not upset Billy further has you giving in. You can’t look at Stu as you reluctantly relax your legs, letting him pull your panties down your thighs and letting them fall to the floor. It looks wrong, and you feel so embarrassed as Stu kicks them away but neither of them seems to pay your underwear any further attention.

“Stu please,” Your plea descends into a quiet moan as he circles your clit with his index finger, sliding further down against you and you panic, squeezing your legs tightly shut before he can do what you think he’s going to do. “Don’t do that.” “Don’t do what?” He pauses, fingers still against your skin.  “Don’t what? Use your words, baby bunny, otherwise I don’t know what you don’t want.”

“I don’t want that. It’s-, I’m on my period.” You feel a bit foolish saying it again, but the need to stress that you actually are bleeding is too strong to ignore, embarrassment making you feel like maybe they don’t quite understand that fact. Billy sighs, and you can practically hear the way he rolls his eyes in the sound, his breath against your neck making you shiver.

“We know. Open your legs sweetheart,” The pet name takes you by surprise, murmured softly against your ear as his fingers stroke over your hips and across the tops of your thighs. “I want you to feel good, alright? I don’t like you being in pain. Open them for me.”

You shiver; his soft whispers sending goose bumps over your arms and down your spine and you’re obeying him before your mind registers the movement, Stu wasting no time in sliding his hand back between your legs, his index finger slowly stroking up and over your clit where he rubs gently before he slips two fingers inside of you easily and makes a sound low in his throat that sounds a mixture between a groan and a whine. “Fuck bunny, you’re wet.”

“Does your stomach hurt?” Billy asks.

“Yeah,” you whisper, not bothering to correct either of them before you screw your eyes shut, your insides clench, a wave of cramps so hard that it makes you want to cry, head falling back against his shoulder. “Everything hurts.”

“Want him to stop?” It sounds like a sincere question but even as Billy asks it Stu shows no sign of stopping. You want to say yes but don’t want to be proven right, but then Stu crooks his fingers, thumb stroking over your clit and the brush of pleasure is all you can think about. It does feel good, and it does seem to be helping. You watch Stu’s face as he glances down at his fingers as he pulls them out of you, and his groan is enough to have your insides clenching hard in need rather than pain. You could see the fascination written all over his face as he slowly dipped his fingers in and out of you.

“"I'll be really gentle bunny, I will make you feel good,” he whispered, slipping his fingers out of your cunt and holding his hand up to show Billy. “What a fucking mess.”

Billy’s quiet groan in your ear makes your breath hitch.

“Let me take this off.” He tugs at your tshirt and this time you raise your arms obediently.  A small murmur of approval in your ear as Billy lifts and removes your shirt as Stu slides his hand back between your legs, cupping you tightly before moving upwards, smearing your blood and wetness up over your hip. You feel torn between revulsion and desire, your breath hitching in alarm when you catch Stu’s gaze, his eyes are dark as they lock on yours in a way that feels borderline predatory. “Need you to lie down.”

“No.” You speak without thinking but before you could continue or backtrack Billy has a hand curling softly around your throat.

“No?” he squeezes gently, “Bunny. Don’t say no,” sliding his hand down to cup your breast. “So pretty,” he murmurs.  “Do they hurt too?”

“Yeah," You suck in a sharp breath when he teasingly pinches your right nipple. “They’re sore.”

“Yeah? Stu’ll make it feel better. Come lie down with me.” Billy shifts to your side and you reluctantly follow him back to his bed, conscious of the way Stu is watching you like a hawk.

“I-,” You shift awkwardly; they don’t seem to be taking your reluctance seriously so you try a different tactic. “Probably gonna make a mess of your sheets you know. How about we swap roles?” Billy just smirks; drawing you into a kiss as he gently pushes you backwards, following you down onto the bed.

“Wanna swap Stu?” Billy keeps one hand on your shoulder, as if he’s expecting you to try and bolt as he turns to look back at him. You watch as Stu shrugs off his jeans, his eyes never leaving your blood smeared thighs as he starts to crawl up over your body, giving you no choice but to lie down.

“No fucking way,” He grins above you, leaning down as if to kiss you but moving at the last second to bite down on your earlobe. “I’m going to eat you out.”

You glance cautiously between him and Billy at your side. “Stu that’s- it’s-,” What you really want to say again is no, but it doesn’t seem to be working. “Messy.” You finish lamely.

He ignores you as he begins to kiss and nip his way down your body, his fingers tugging at your bra strap but Billy’s little whispered Leave it on has him moving on to sucking little kisses down your stomach. His mouth lingering on your hip as he nips gently at you, your body arching into him just a little and making him shiver. he would never get over how eagerly you reacted to him, especially when you obviously didn't want too. His tongue soothing over the bite before he positioned himself between your thighs.

“You’ll feel so much better bunny,” Billy was sitting patiently beside your head, hand idly stroking your hair and for one brief second it’s what you had actually wanted this morning. A soft, affectionate gentle reunion, but then Stu dips his head and licks his tongue through the wet folds of your cunt, making your head fall back with a loud moan.

“You taste like blood,” His voice was hoarse and strained and as you looked down at him, you could see him stroking his cock with his free hand. “So sexy, bunny.”

You opened your mouth to respond with something sarcastic but the words died in your throat when he buried his face back between your thighs. You hissed at the contact but couldn’t move away from him even if you were brave enough to try. Billy shifted closer, his attention seemingly fixed on Stu’s head between your thighs.

One finger stroked through your folds up to your clit, gentle and testing. It was slow, gentle, so unlike what you were expecting from Stu. The barely there stimulation was a kind of torture, leaving you squirming and eager for more. But it feels good, warm building pleasure easing the pain slowly.

 "Stu," you gasped, arching your back. "Please." 

 "Please? You want it now?" His smirk was clear in his tone, even as he teased the very tip of one finger into you.  

"Stop teasing," you grumbled. “Thought you were going to help me?”

“I am helping you.” He sighs, alternating between greedily dipping his tongue inside you and sucking gently at your clit.  His name tore out of your throat as you gripped his hair between your fingers, hips rocking up into his mouth. He shifts one hand from your thigh to press flat against your stomach, holding you still as he fucks you with his tongue.

“Is it helping?" He eases off, two fingers slipping into you with a lewd noise and without even thinking about it, you attempted to close your knees, shrinking a little in embarrassment.

Billy murmurs your name in warning. “Don’t.”

You force yourself to relax, Stu pumping his fingers steadily, thumb grazing over your clit. 

"Fuck," you breathed, arching your back and rocking your hips down onto his hand. You squirm and Billy sighs as he strokes his thumb across your forehead.

"Stay still," he murmurs, his voice thick with arousal.  "He’s trying to help you bunny, just look at me ok?”

Stu’s nose brushes your clit as his tongue delves inside of you and you cry out, your back arching as you break Billy’s gaze, eyes squeezing shut as you feel sparks of pleasure running all through your body.

"Stu, please.”

“Look at me,” Billy repeats, his fingers grasp your chin, pulling your face towards him. He wants your attention and you’re not giving it to him, you can tell he’s amused and a little annoyed by your inability to keep eye contact.

"You like it like that?" Billy asks as Stu crooks his fingers, rubbing up against a spot that had pleasure rising embarrassingly quickly. "Slow and gentle? You gonna cum for me?” 

“For me,” you can feel Stu’s breath across your skin, his lips brushing the inside of your thigh as he speaks. “I’m the one doing all the work here.”

“I-yes-,” It’s all you can manage as he sinks his teeth into the tender skin of your inner thigh and you hissed, arching into him as you clenched and fluttered around his fingers, thighs tightening around his head as you ride out the slow warming wave of pleasure. You felt uncomfortably wet and sticky between your legs and thought of the mess you must be making on Billy’s sheets briefly crossed your mind.

Stu slows as your moans turn into whimpers, his tongue lapping over you softly once more before he sits up. It’s hard to look at him, blood smeared all over his lips, chin and nose, somehow more but not as much as you were expecting, but the way he is staring at you makes you shiver. He looks scary, feral, but he's also got a shit eating grin on his face because he knows he made you feel better. “Gonna fuck you now.” “Greedy.” Billy finally speaks up and Stu freezes. Something passes between them; a brief silent conversation that you know you’ll never be a part of but whatever was said Stu was obviously getting his way, as he moved his hips between your thighs.

“You’re going to be a good slut and suck him off while I fuck this bloody little pussy.” He stroked the head of his cock along your cunt and you heard him swallow hard as he watched your blood coat the head. “Fuck that’s hot.” he shuddered hard as he let his cock rub against your cunt, nudging your clit and teasing you as he glides through your wet folds. He moved to kiss you and you tilted your head, trying to avoid his mouth and he tuts, obviously displeased with the movement. “I want my kiss.” It’s a sulky, childish complaint but the puppy dog eyes and pout he gives you looks terrifying combined with the blood smeared across his face. You don’t want to but you don’t move away when he leans into kiss you again. Grossed out by the taste of your blood on his lips, coppery and sticky, you forced yourself to relax as Stu grips your jaw hard, holding you still and digging his fingers into your cheeks until you open your mouth for him. He swipes his tongue in to your mouth once and then pulls away with a low groan. Your chin felt sticky but Billy was quick to grasp your wrist tightly as you tried to wipe your hand across your mouth, Stu poking you on the nose at your grimace.

“Don’t ruin it bunny, let Billy fuck that bloody mouth of yours.”

You nod your head in defeat, biting back a moan when the head of his cock presses at your entrance, your breath stuttering as he begins to push inside. The stretch of him is unfairly divine, and you try not to think about the messthe two of you are going to make.  “Fuck, look at that.” He draws out slowly, not even half way inside you, his pupils blown wide as he stares between your legs. “You’re beautiful, bleeding all over me.”

Billy murmurs your name, his patience at being ignored obviously run out as he tugs your hair to draw you attention back to him, his cock hard and ready in front of your mouth. You open slightly reluctantly and circle your tongue lightly over the tip, but he inhales sharply, a breath that turns into a needy plea when he abruptly pushes forward.  "Just a bit more, bunny."

He starts slow, letting you accommodate to the intrusion, and then slowly begins pushing further down your throat, forcing you to take him until you retch, but before you can pull away his hand grips the back of your head, holding you in place.

“Hold it there for me, breath through your nose.” His fingers wind into your hair and Billy shudders, groaning appreciatively at the sight before him. Your eyes are swimming with tears as you try not to choke. The look of adoration he’s giving you is making you want to try your best to please him, but its difficult trying to forcing yourself to breathe through your nose without panicking. “Fuck, bunny, been thinking of this the whole time you were away. You choking on my cock.”

You hum in response making his breath hitch but a sudden thrust from Stu makes you jolt, makes you gag hard around Billy’s cock, instinctively reaching out one of your hands to press against Billy’s stomach as you tried to push him away, to give you some breathing room.

“Don’t.” One of his hands quickly finds yours, giving it one you think is supposed to  be a reassuring squeeze but it feels vaguely threatening instead, but he still takes pity on you, drawing back just enough to give you some breathing room. “relax.”

You try, but although he’s encouraging you to relax he’s not stopped moving, his hips unable to stay still as he thrusts slowly into your mouth. "That's it. Fuck-"

Encouraged by his praise, you try to take him deeper, swallowing around him as the tears started to slide down your cheeks. you must look a mess but Billy glances down at you with such adoration it makes your heart soar.

"Are you crying?" Billy groans, a thumb swiping under your eye. "Cute."

There’s a hum of approval  from Stu, his pace not slowing for a moment as he slid his hands up to your breasts, brushing  his thumbs over your nipples as he leant down, biting and sucking hard at your skin with each roll of his hips. It was all overwhelming in the best and worst way. Delicious pressure was curling low in your gut, and you couldn’t stop your hips moving in time with his thrusts, chasing after your release. Stu groaned at the movement, reaching a hand between you to push his thumb to against your clit.

 “Come on, baby, you can do it,” he stutters out. “I know you can cum for me.” You were close, your orgasm creeping up on you quickly, but you could tell from Stu’s faltering thrusts that he was close too.

"m’close," Stu mumbles against your neck, tongue wet and sloppy over your skin as he strokes over your clit. “I can feel you squeezing my cock, bunny. Come on, come on."  He shudders, sounding a little desperate but his frantic fingers slick and clumsy against your clit gives you just the right amount of stimulation to do as you’re told. Another slow roiling wave of pleasure that draws a strangled cry from your throat as Stu fucks you through it. You could barely breathe as Billy started to fuck your mouth harder, his own moans getting louder as he watched your back arch.

Stu hissed, the feel of you spasming and clenching around him and the sound of you gagging around Billy’s cock enough to make him reach his own peak. His hips bucking into yours one final time, burying himself as deep as he could go as a flood of warmth settled in your belly and he came with a low hoarse moan.

Billy’s movements become rougher as he curses, dragging your face to his pelvis and holding it there as he bottoms out, cumming down your throat with an eager moan. Stu’s fingers fluttering across your throat as you swallow and Billy withdraws from your mouth, leaning back on his hands with a contented sigh, eyes closed and heaving chest as he catches his breath. You’re coughing hard, retching almost, cum and saliva dribbling down your chin, and Stu wipes his fingers through the mess, rubbing it into your skin as he continues to trail his fingers over your throat.

“Missed you.” Stu whispers. He’s still inside you, his cock twitching and softening sending little pleasurable shivers through your body.

You don’t bother saying anything, just wince as Stu finally pulls out of you, the rush of fluids immediate and all three of you stare at the redness coating his cock. He swirls his fingers along his shaft in fascination, coating his fingers in the mixture of bloody fluids. “Shit,” he sounds dazed, and there’s a soft grunt of agreement from Billy as he slumps down beside you, a hand resting across your thigh as you  both watch Stu stroke himself. It is hard to look away from, even in your exhausted state and you feel yourself zooming out as you watch, lulled into a dreamy relaxed state as Billy’s fingers trace up and down your thigh.

Stu’s hand tapping against your jaw makes you jump, forcing yourself to look up at him. His thumb brushes gently across your cheek as one hand still languidly strokes his cock.

“Clean me up?”

Billy can't help the gentle smile as he glances at you over the curve of Stu's shoulder. Curled almost against the edge of the bed, half covered by the blankets and the hot water bottle Stu had found you held tight against your abdomen even in sleep.  Your hair is damp still and he knows for a fact you're going to be annoyed about that in the morning. Annoyed further when he tells you how adorable you look. It had taken him quite a lot of effort to tempt you into the bath with him earlier, which had surprised him, and hurt, but you’d caved eventually, you always did.

He hugged Stu closer, letting the sting of hurt disappear with the warmth of Stu’s skin  before giving into the temptation to press a flurry of soft kisses across his shoulder blade. “You awake?"

It’s quiet for a minute, long enough that Billy thinks he might actually be asleep until Stu shifts with a sigh.

"No," Stu said slowly, sleep making the word more of an inarticulate grunt.

Billy tightened his arm around Stu’s waist, pulling himself closer until he is flush against his back . Stu makes a noise that he interprets as probably irritated, a noise he ignores and instead slides his hand up Stu’s hip and over his ribs.

"You doing?" Stu mumbles.

“Touching you?” Billy’s breath is warm on his skin and Stu shivers when another kiss is pressed to his shoulder. He doesn’t say anything, and Billy’s roaming fingers reach higher up his chest, only pausing when Stu still doesn’t respond. "You want me to stop?"

"No. kinda." Stu whispers, trying his best to keep his breathing even, failing completely when Billy scratches a nail lightly over his nipple, only just catching hold of the whine that wants to escape. "sleep."

"Oh." Billy’s amused huff sends goose bumps down his spine. “Sleep.” 

It’s tempting. Very tempting, to let his fingers roam over Stu’s chest. A few more tweaks and caresses over his nipple and he’d give in, he knows it. It’s one of Stu’s major weak spots but instead he smooths his hand down Stu’s torso, letting his nails scratch teasingly over his skin before relenting, wrapping his arm around his waist and smothering his face into Stu’s back. He smells like you.

[reccyls]

Do we know anything about victor? Or have they still kept him the mysterious type

Thank youu

He's still pretty mysterious and we don't know all that much about him. Some things that have been mentioned about him (and if I've forgotten or misremembered anything, anyone please do chime in!):

He and William are the two founders of Crown, and they met while William was planning his father's funeral

They both share a love for seeing people be free and true to their desires

Harrison calls him an old man so he's probably the oldest of Crown, though we don't know how much specifically

I believe Harrison mentioned in one of his endings that he can tell via his ability that Victor lies a lot.

As for speculative stuff... During the wedding event, there was something that made me think that if he does have an ability, it would be something related to time manipulation or something along those lines? I can't remember what exactly that was, though. Something like "a cult leader had a gun pointed at Victor and Kate, but in a single blink, Victor had suddenly appeared behind the man and disarmed him" or something like that

[misc-obeyme]

Okay I finally have something to say about Lesson 17. Not because I didn't initially but man my thoughts were all over the place.

Spoilers below as always.

First: Solomon because what!

Let me begin by saying that I am not here to discuss whether or not anything that either Asmo or Solomon have done in regards to each other is "right" or not. They're fictional characters, as far as I know they've both always been morally grey, and there is more than enough discussion about this elsewhere. If someone wants to know my opinion, feel free to ask, but if that's what you're looking for, it isn't going to be in this post.

That being said!

Why is Solomon telling us this story about his pact with Asmo again? I mean, he already told us about it several lessons ago. Not only that, but he tells it differently. The first time he says he met Asmo in his hometown, but this time he says it was just some town after a festival. The stories aren't the same. So either he's just too drunk this time around and he's misremembering things or he lied to us the first time.

Either way, the fact that they have made him bring it up so much means it has to be relevant to the story in general. I mean, that's Storytelling 101. If you keep bringing something up in your story, you have to do something with it. That's Chekhov's gun, you know?

If the purpose is for us to notice that his story has changed, then maybe my theory about past!Solomon is more true than I thought? It might even just be a completely different Solomon from a different branch of time.

Because I noticed something else - Solomon is the only character whose outfit changes regularly throughout the story. (Aside from the latest one where everybody wears their RAD uniforms.)

He starts out in what they call his casual outfit - it's the sorcerer one with the cape. But then he switches to what they used to call his human world outfit - the one with the trench coat and fancy necklaces. He stays that way for several lessons, then switches back again. He switches back and forth between them one more time throughout the lessons we have. And he's wearing the human world outfit the first time he tells us about Asmo and the casual sorcerer outfit the second time when he's drunk.

This might not mean anything at all, but it just seems like we may be dealing with rotating Solomons.

ANYWAY. Every time a new lesson comes out I say I'm not going to analyze it too much because my theories always get out of control. And yet here I am doing the very thing I say I won't do!

Pfff. I can't help it, this game has taken over my brain.

It also seems a little out of character for Solomon to straight up get drunk because MC was gone for one day. Like this is the guy who spent most of his life alone and all that? Hmmm. It was pretty funny when he was hungover the next day though.

Second: RAPHAEL

WHAT DID THAT ANGEL JUST SAY?!

They want the brothers to go BACK?!

Listen here, I am not okay with this development. I hope they're not gearing up for a season 2 about a war in the past. I want to go back to the present already. I want to know the truth about who Nightbringer is. I want to know what the HELL is going on! I wanted all this story line to wrap up in one season! But we're already on lesson 17, I feel like we're no closer to knowing who Nightbringer is and NOW the Celestial Realm has basically declared war on the Devildom?

I mean, there's no way the bros would actually go back. Not after everything they've been through. Though I could see Lucifer trying to take on the responsibility all by himself somehow. All I know is that MC better pull out their OP abilities and fix this before the end of lesson 20, thanks.

Okay, that's all I had to say, I'm gonna get back to writing some fluffy fics now lol.

[welcomehomeincorrectquotes]

The Rejuvenation Theory by @welcomehomeincorrectquotes and @thatgayoctopus:

“It's a rejuvenator. Homeworld used to use these things on Gems that started steppin' out of line. One hit with this... you're back to how they made you.”

“Oh, my stars, I touched it! I could have lost all my character development!”

Hypothesis: Are the characters of Welcome Home getting reset to their “Factory Settings” whenever they stray from the show's intended script?

Evidence so far:

Bear in mind, we are still very early in the story so we are naturally missing a lot of the pieces of the puzzle and that, individually, the evidence doesn't mean much, but put it all together and I think we start to see a pattern.

Nosipho: Hiya Wally! You and your friends sure seem like a bunch of wonderful folks! What is your favourite memory with each of your friends? Wally: No memory.

Oh dear, Wally scribbling himself out of that first sentence is not a good sign.

Barnaby: Hiya Howdy, I think we’re gonna enjoy ourselves the usual. Howdy: A usual for my usuals? Coming right up, pal-ly! Wally: The usual? I thought we were getting hotdogs. Barnaby: That is our usual, little buddy, it means something you and I get all the time!

It could be that Wally is just unfamiliar with the saying “the usual”, but if this is something they do all the time, shouldn’t Wally already know this?

Eddie’s description: Despite having a written origin, Eddie had never stated the correct name of where he came from throughout the show's run. The running joke often had him stating a place that did not exist, followed by an admission to misremembering it as a place he delivered to as opposed to a place he lived.

This seems to go beyond being "forgetful". Not remembering where you're from is one thing, but mixing it up with somewhere you've visited is another.

Eddie: I’m starting to think nobody’s there… Wait… I can’t remember if the phone was ringing… Maybe I was going to make a phone call... But who would I call? 

This gives me Dori vibes.

Wally: Aw. I wanted to learn the colours. Frank: Wally, I think you already know the colours. Wally: …I could hear them again.

This conversation reads to me as: "Wally, I've already taught you the colours." "...have you?"

And then there is this line in the letter from Frank to Wally:

Frank: *to Wally* I have found a new insect today. You remember what an insect is, don't you? It is a beautiful arthropod!

Why would Frank feel the need to ask Wally if he remembers what an insect is? Insects are Frank's whole schtick and Wally most certainly knows who his neighbours are! Does this happen often?

That's just what I've noticed so far! What do you think? Anything I missed?

[gayofthefae]

Thinking about how Finn said that “personal growth” and “learning things about themselves” thing not about Mike in the chair like I misremembered (I grouped it in with the “normal” line) BUT IN RESPONSE TO A QUESTION ABOUT MIKE AND EL’S RELATIONSHIP.

Listen, I know that El learned knew stuff and that is clear. But the idea that Mike learned new things about himself and went through personal growth when the primary focus was on his joint relationship implies to me that that wasn’t the only thing he was thinking about.

Also, I am thinking about the things he did need to learn about himself for the introspection required for the I love you speech, but it almost feels like an omission of more unreliable narration that we weren’t let in on the transition of him figuring that out - seemingly between the painting scene and the speech but including prior, more ambiguous scenes.

It was a payoff to him not saying I love you for both of them on the surface but actually...what was it a payoff to? Because conceptually the like structure pitch is “he can’t say I love you then he does” not the PLOT. So it is FASCINATING to me that it wasn’t emphasized to us at all. Like no further scenes to show how El feels unloved after that one scene for the rest of the season other than parallels GA wouldn’t catch. And more importantly, we did not see Mike’s inability causing him any pain or making him feel pent up. We saw it clearly causing him guilt. But there was no emphasis or representation whatsoever of what he was actually going through. The anxiety reasoning wasn’t presented until right before - in the previous episode to the speech. Everything else was ambiguous and seemed to be more guilt oriented surrounding how it made El feel that he couldn’t and the following events causing her to leave. He felt at fault for her leaving and possibly being in danger and he felt bad about how they left things. He wanted her back. But that is a separate concept from how he was feeling about being incapable of saying it even BEFORE she brought it up. If she hadn’t been hurt and there hadn’t been consequences...would he have been comfortable? What internal effect was it having? Was there torment? Was he trying to say/write it? Did he not even notice and just subconsciously omit it? 

The fact that we don’t know is what’s crazy to me. Because it means that the set up and payoff are bookended but not earned. We are told he can’t say I love you and she’s sad about it. We talk about other shit for 7 episodes (yes, including Mike, because I am not counting guilt, only explanation). Then he says I love you. EMPHASIS ON We talk about other shit for 7 episodes. It was not about them. Mike felt guilty and El was preoccupied. We are told we should care but it just feels weird. Because honestly? I DO care! But the way that the writers handled it dampened that a little bit. It didn’t ignite it. Not in a like dampening joy sense just like a flame that wasn’t tended to and died out. It wasn’t tended to. They didn’t maintain anything but “I couldn’t tell her but I wish I had told her...you know...that”. Okay so all we know total is that he wishes he had been able to tell her and she wishes he had been able to tell her but we don’t know WHY he couldn’t tell her and we only know that she wishes he HAD been able to tell her. We don’t have enough details to know if saying it now would even fix things because the thing that hurt already happened! It might fix things! But we were given insufficient information to know that!

It feels earned. But only for the people watching the show for them. It would be like Byler kissing in season 5 episode 1. It’s out of the blue. It’s unearned. The fans following subtext are excited, but your average Joe was NOT paying attention to those side details and implied subtextual messaging enough to know or care or get behind it. Nice. Good for them. Now what else is on. If you’re just a general audience member, it satisfied just enough. It’s a band aid. It’s a slapped on excuse. It’s a question’s answer spat out just for the people who don’t care enough to ask any more. “What’s gonna fix that” “I love you” “oh...ok...fixed”. It’s for the people who care about the concept of a plot conflict being resolved more than the specifics of what that conflict or resolution even are. There was a question. There was tension until it was answered. It was answered. Nobody cares what the answer was.

If you think about it, there is only a setup and payoff - no build. That’s not how that goes. That’s not how writing works - at least not when you’re trying for that. You can’t just say “I want this”, wait a while and then give it to them. They didn’t do anything to achieve it. Mike was venting but we didn’t watch him do any sort of work on himself or introspection or anything really to achieve what he seemed to. Even his reaction to the big thing that supposedly would cause that adjustment wasn’t shown to us. And El’s plot wasn’t even about that at all. If anything, the fight was a driving force for her to run into the arms of her main plot. They essentially created a clear and easy setup, executed an unrelated complicated and planned plot, and then were like “oh yeah” and wrote an ending.

Except, obviously, they didn’t. They would have done that if they didn’t care. But they do care. Which is why it was purposeful.

It’s just like what I just said about the M&M’s season 3 season in the hospital being right in the middle of the action. They don’t want you to care about their romantic relationship. They don’t want you to be against it and they want you to be in support of them in general, which is why they have plenty of scenes with focus like the pineapple pizza scene - platonic and happy. But multiple of their payoffs are plotlines are deprioritized. From the start. Mike and Lucas were fighting and they needed to stick together to find Will - One of El’s narrative functions there being to drive them apart to hinder that ability. Mike was with Will and El was finding her family. El was with Max. It was one-sided). El was regaining her memories and Mike was struggling with guilt.

They have always either had other primary focus or only one of them was focused on the other. And what did all these seasons end with? They kissed after bonding, but amidst a focus of Mike and Lucas’ fighting and overcoming for the sake of friendship. They went to the Snow Ball together, but after spending the whole season with other people. They got back together, but after one of them not initiating anything in that regard (ironically, her grief caused her focus to shift - not that it wasn’t one of her focuses it just wasn’t #1). Mike said I love you, but only after she spent the whole season working through her lab trauma. Their plots were not buildups to their payoffs. They never have been. Because their payoffs have always been romantic. But the little moments sprinkled out have been what’s really important. While it hasn’t been emphasized like the unearned moments, it has been there throughout. ( Also I don’t know where to add this in but the distraction of Max cutting the speech off aka being a priority basically saying “other things are still happening” just like the cuts in the hospital scene did: “there are more important things” was more of the energy than them feeling connected at all.)

Because their platonic relationship may not be the big music swell, but it’s what will stick with you. Because those are the moments that were given the time and the true focus. They weren’t distracted from. Because those platonic moments are both the most important ones FROM their relationship and their relationship is not the most important thing from their individual storylines. So the built up arcs, the earned ones, have been something different. Not gonna list again but prime example: El telling Brenner no and standing confident in her decision rather than being told “I love you”.

They have important moments together but the moments that would supposedly end their arc for the season are unearned because the romantic nature and what they actually are was previously referenced but not built up. The moments given the time of day were not buildup or payoffs at all, but rather little in between moments where they simply enjoyed one another or offered understanding and support. Their plots are romantic and that’s why they don’t work. Because the most important part of their relationship has always been just being there. 

[ninjigma]

QuinFox Week Part 5/7 - First / Previous / Next

Day 5: Healing + Battle Couple Track: 'Deep Water - Acoustic' - American Authors (Spotify / YouTube)

He woke up to the sound of a ship.

A low hum told him they were in hyperspace, that somehow he had gotten back. All he had were fleeting moments of clarity, starting with the jab of something sharp into his arm and the distinct voice of a clone swearing. 

Fox. 

He groaned trying to remember more, blinking blurry eyes and trying to sit up.  He stopped startled when a hand on his shoulder stilled him.

“Don’t, Quinlan, just- just rest okay?”

Quinlan breathed deeply, trying to relax at the knowledge that he was with Fox and Fox wasn’t panicking, so surely they must be safe wherever they were. 

“Fox?”

Vision clearing further he picked out that familiar profile, lined with worry and beautiful gray hair spreading from his temples. 

“Yes, I’m still here Quinlan.”

“Where’s here?”

“Back on the ship, en route to Coruscant using the pre-made flight path you set.” Fox was speaking like he had already said the answer before, eyes locked on the data pad in his hand. “I’ve already forwarded the information we received and updated the Council on your condition. You don’t need to contact them again until you reach the temple in a few days.”

Quinlan slowly lolled his head to the side, carefully taking in Fox’s tense posture as he sat at the edge of the bunk by Quinlan's hip. He was only in his undersuit, the special regulating fabric hugging his lean and lethal form. Quinlan had always found that interesting about Fox, how he seemed almost sleeker than other clones. Minor differences that just spoke of how he had tapered himself to what he was skilled in, and, combined with how he swore Fox could be a Jedi shadow in a different life, really just fit that namesake so well. 

Before he could say anything in response though, Fox had continued on, answering unasked questions. “Yes, it’s our ship, I wasn’t leaving my helmet behind. Yes, I have your lightsaber. And yes, I brought you back. I carried you, you aren’t misremembering. Yes, I know you think my hands are pretty, and finally, yes, I am very much okay. Only minor injuries.”

Quinlan felt a blush rise to his cheeks just as much as the smile that began to lift his cheeks. “I guess I was saying those things out loud then huh?”

Fox’s head snapped up, eyes turning to the Jedi. Finding whatever he required to recognize Quinlan truly had awoken, his brilliant first statement was “Quinlan?”

“Did I add the part about wanting to kiss your scar then?”

Fox’s nose crinkled, stubborn, and as adorable as usual, in Quinlan’s opinion, especially when he caught how there was now the smallest hint of a blush on those cheeks. 

“Yes, yes you did. You weren’t exactly of a sound mind though, so I won’t hold it against you if-!”

At this, he tossed the data pad on the counter across from them, then turned fully to Quinlan with one accusing finger wagging at the bedridden man. 

“If you never, ever, do that to me again, got it? I don’t care that it wasn’t GAR business, that was too close, and I refuse to have you collapse like that again.”

“I did it because it's you.”

Fox blinked, stilling. 

Quinlan took it as his chance to continue, head still a bit unfocused and heart somehow untethered. “Yes, your hands are pretty. Yes, I would kiss the scar. No, I’m not joking. Yes, I’m coherent, I have done this enough times to know. So yes, it's because it is you, and you are brilliant, can even handle my lightsaber better than most Jedi I have seen, so I trust you. And as for GAR business, I understand, because it wasn’t GAR business, but… well…”

At this he smiled, eyes a tad heavy again and knuckles weakly brushing out against Fox’s leg. “It’s me, and it’s you. And though it wasn’t GAR business, I have definitely made myself your business, just like you’re mine.”

Fox’s hand fell slowly, landing on the bed just shy of Quinlan's forearm. He looked like he was debating something, and Quinlan figured it was a moment of truth. If Fox would deem him unwell and they would drop whatever was happening, or if he would give in and push forward. 

Fox’s own worn knuckles gave the softest brush to Quinlan’s arm. 

“Yes, yes you are my business. You… you are my friend. So you should very well know by now I’d fight every droid the separatists have to get your ass out of trouble, you jerk. That I wasn’t going to let you make me go back to the Council alone. General Kenobi would be all sad too and Cody would be a blasted pain about it. So don’t ever go doing risky things without me. I’m not falling for the Jedi business line anymore, got it?”

Dark eyes locked on his, and despite his weariness, Quinlan was able to pick up the pain there and tried to prompt Fox further. “Don’t like me leaving you out of all the fun?”

“I don’t like hearing you say goodbye over a comm, Quinlan, damn it-“

Fox heaved a heavy breath, and for once Quinlan stayed silent. He let Fox work through what he needed and gave him the mercy of silence to make his decision on his next words. 

“Who else is gonna actually challenge me in sabacc? Poke and prod at me every chance they get? Or even drag me out to do insane things, drink and bitch with me? Smuggle me in different and new foods, even if it’s late at night, just cause you're so excited for me to try it that even your tattoos look like they are smiling? Well, I’ll tell you what, it doesn’t matter who else, because none of them would be you.”

This time the back of Fox’s hand pressed against his forearm was clearly intentional, Fox’s gaze turning fully to Quinlan, who was feeling a dozen different things from within himself and in the Force surrounding Fox. 

“They wouldn’t be you, and so it wouldn’t be the same. Because it’s you, Quinlan Vos. It’s all you, and I refuse to go on in this galaxy without… that, if I can help it.”

“And what is… that?”

Fox’s hand was flippant, gesturing in Quinlan’s general direction with a huff, and the blush was now very clearly there for a reason that Quinlan suspected he could finally piece together. 

Softly, with a hint of their usual banter but enough heart to be clearly different, Quinlan spoke. “I think you’re gesturing to all of me.”

Eyes flickering up quickly, then away as Fox turned to try and hide the smile Quinlan could practically feel. “Yeah, all of… that.”

Quinlan snickered, quiet and childish. “Well, I think we make a great couple then.”

Before Fox’s mouth could finish whipping back around Quinlan cut in again. “Because I don’t want to face the galaxy without all of… that, either. Dream team, best battle couple, taking on the galaxy and all the idiots in it together.”

His eyes were slipping closed, but not fast enough to miss the rare soft gaze Fox gifted him and the gentlest murmur of “Yeah, a… great couple…” from those beautiful lips. 

Quinlan fell back into the dark without a single ounce of fear.

[contritecactite]

Revisiting book omens via audiobook as I drive halfway across the country and here are some personal, subjective observations and highlights so far (Newt and Anathema have just met):

- Crowley tells Aziraphale everything as soon as he can. He's so absolutely genuine and knowing that that's exactly the quality that got him into trouble in the first place has me tearing curtains and yelling at the sky because it's not like it's any safer for a demon but he's being himself anyway!

- Crowley really reads as the brains of the operation and Aziraphale largely reads as sidekick (caveat: up to this point!). I felt the opposite about TV omens, oddly. Maybe Michael Sheen just gives leader vibes idk.

- Adam Young is so casually mean to his friends in the way I absolutely remember my friends and I being mean to each other around that age and it's somehow both hilarious and sobering.

- A lot of specific lines have made me say "oh fuck" out loud. Many others have made me say "oh sweetheart noooo" (this second batch is entirely directed at Aziraphale).

- I don't think I stopped smiling for the first three hours because the writing is just so engaging on the whole. After three hours I had to shift at least some of my attention to traffic because, unlike Crowley, I can't just go 90 unnoticed and slip around other vehicles at incredibly close margins.

- I would like to consider the character of Mary Hodges much more closely now that I've read her again. I think she's so interesting.

- Crowley tried and failed to hit a hedgehog 😭

- The weight the authors managed to add to some lines really is just !!! It's the way I've always wanted to write and can only ever mimic.

- I always misremembered the line about Dog going into Jasmine Cottage as something like, "Dog went inside. The horseshoe above the door went white hot, and a little more of Hell burned away." BUT IT'S: " “There,” said Adam proudly. “Good boy.” And a little bit more of Hell burned away . . ." and that. Has so many more implications to me. Posts going around lately about Beelzebub asking another demon "what would you think I told you you did a good job" or whatever and someone "who would do anything for a kind word" etc. If you're here you've probably seen me yell about how one of the points Good Omens makes, to me, is that you are what you're told you are (unless you decide to be something else). And I'm YELLING MORE NOW.

- Aziraphale, of course, does not share anything with Crowley about the Agnes' book until it's too late, but he also just. Straight up chooses reading through it over sticking with Crowley, who "suddenly feel[s] very alone." (This was a nooooo moment.)

- For context, this was an "oh fuck" moment (also a "this line weighs a lot" moment): "Aziraphale was an angel, but he also worshiped books." It just. It says so much about both who Aziraphale is and what he's capable of. I think I could write an essay on what this line alone says about Aziraphale's relation to heaven, to the world, to knowledge, to materials things, and a bit by extension about his relationship with Crowley. But I have too many things to do, so I won't.

[noisytenant]

BIG umineko spoilers up to episode 4 end stretch - grooming, implied incest/pedophilia mention; talking thru some theories/observations

am i misremembering or wasnt (someone calling herself) beatrice raised from birth in kuwadorian. everyone keeps calling her kinzo's mistress and it's like. oh they don't know...

im sure the ambiguity is intentional because the point is that we can't really pin down her age (or even how many fucking beatrices there are), but it keeps coming back to me. beatrice's drunk furniture talk in episode 4 is like really sharp when you look at all this.

they repeatedly draw attention to beatrice's age, both physically and how she acts, and age-appropriateness in general. it strikes me a lot how everyone treats battler as an adult man, even though he's only 18 and self-admittedly not very mature. arrested by trauma, none of the family members really know how to grow up, and the line between fantasy and reality is blurred.

i wonder if the thing where it seems she (or someone calling herself beatrice) perhaps had some feelings for battler in the past is related to all this. she's trapped in this birdcage, and yet suddenly there's this guy who doesn't accept the family's values. without even realizing the significance of what he's doing, he challenges them and escapes their clutches, seemingly simply because it's in his stubborn nature (and perhaps related to his "true" identity).

but he stops thinking. he doesn't build a case or try to justify it. he doesn't change anything, he doesn't protect or save anyone but himself. in the end, he swallows down the family's poison, thinking he was naive and childish for leaving. and of course, beatrice who knows little more than her cage, torn between contempt and appreciation for it, is going to push and prod at him, trying to make him remember why he left in the first place, and why he left her there. you were the only one who got your head above the water, but you didn't even realize you were breathing for the first time!

just as a matter of my personal opinion about Breaking The Cycles, i feel like a big point is that ultimately you have to be the one to break it yourself. it would be kind of lame if he just white knight saved her--but i think it's extremely understandable that a big part of her wants that.

it's hard to move away from an abusive narrative when your vantage point is so limited (remember the talk about seeing things from multiple perspectives to create a 3D composite?). beatrice's endless magic is the limitless power she has to consider everything that happened and make sense of it. but it's coated in mysticism, in kinzo's magic explanations. because it's endless, it's also inescapable. she's looking for an "out", and battler seems like one, so intent on denial. but i think with her resignation from the game, she's lost faith in him. she's retreating into her role. i'm losing my train of thought here but yeah

i think this is... really missing the specifics of who these characters are, the identity switches and so on, but i do think that it's an emotional narrative that has some credence.

beatrice has multiple selves, some fawning and some fighting, and struggles to resolve the various truths of her existence. reflected in the eyes of someone so intent to challenge everything she is, there's the opportunity that he might cut through and excise the internalized narratives that keep her chained to her role(s). but as we get through episode 4, it's clearer that he simply can't see her, he doesn't even understand the game he's playing--its emotional component, the motives. It isn't about what actually logically happened, it's about what those various speculations mean about who we are and who we can become.

...

...

...Nice petscop reference

[imminent-danger-came]

Who do you think will try and help MK grapple with the issue of being the harbinger of chaos? (Obviously all his friends, but who would play the biggest role?)

Considering that some of the next season will presumably take place in the underworld, and that he‘s the only one who actually KNOWS about it; Macaque is actually a decently strong contender imo.

Which would be really fun- they‘re one of my favorite duos (MK is a bitch exclusively to Macaque and I love him for it) but I‘m holding out hope for some Sandy/Pigsy!

Since the curse of the scroll called them monstrosities, and they both seem to have lived with that kind of discrimination they would also have experience with figuring out your own identity despite it.

So them unknowingly helping MK when their past is revealed sounds fun!

And the MK‘s mental health takes a turn for the worse again in the special obviously. We can‘t have him become to stable after all!

Also, (sorry if you already talked about this before) What connection do you think the curse has to MK? If I‘m not misremembering anything he is the only one where it said 'we' (unless MK was in denial about something). Everybody else was 'you', but MK also accidentally said "we help people!". Even in the curses final scene it says "then prove us wrong." Us being the curse and MK, since he did end up believing what it said.

Do you think there is actually some credence to the curse calling MK the harbinger of chaos? Or is it just saying what MK is feeling since he caused so much damage on accident? Is MK being that harbinger actually destiny, or more something along the lines of a self-fulfilling prophecy?

Answering this ask with another, because both kinda go into the same thing with the curse/memory:

-

So, in my dreams, Sandy is the one to help MK cope with his Monkey Demon identity for reasons I go into in this post (of course I want Mei to be the one to talk MK down initially, but as far as post-breakdown goes Sandy is my top contender—which those two work together to comfort MK a lot anyways, like in 2x06 and 3x04). But, if we had a Pigsy/Sandy tag-team duo while also going into their pasts, that would be awesome! Literally couldn't ask for anything more.

Macaque could also be interesting, being the one who was there for MK in 4x09 and 4x10, but he's also already given his advice: MK doesn't only have two choices, and nobody can decide who he is for him. But, well, the curse (who I think is undeniably part of MK) was the one who gave MK the title of "harbinger of chaos"—it wasn't anyone else. MK essentially gave himself that title. This would be a super interesting way for MK's arc to go, if it's headed this sort of direction, where MK can certainly decide who he wants to be, but what if he doesn't believe in that person, you know?

((Of course Macaque can offer up more advice, I'm just not sure Macaque advice is what MK needs right now.))

Next on the agenda: whatever the fuck MK is.

So I have this collection of screenshots where I highlight MK's weird connection with the underworld throughout the seasons, and I specifically want to call attention to the scroll emanating from MK not once, but both times he enters the scroll:

Bonus Shot of MK as part of his reflection motif, where his face lines up with the skull on screen:

MK: "Again!? Remind me how this 'game' is supposed to convince me I'm not destined to turn into an evil monkey demon thing again? Cause every option I pick takes me to this, same, screen!"

(4x10 The Jade Emperor) (Every option MK picks leading him to the same end? I'll take foreshadowing for 500!)

Which, the skull in the TV is very similar to LBD's skull in the Demon Revealing Mirror from 2x02:

All this to say: the Curse/the scroll and MK are connected somehow, meaning I'd take a gander that MK is also connect to memory in some form.

MK: "You're not my friend—you're NOT me!" Curse MK: "Sure I am! I'm your best friend, well, closest at least! I know more about you than you'll even admit—to yourself, or to others."

(4x07 Pitiful Creatures)

-

I think you could make the argument (which I'll probably write a full-fledged theory post on at some point), that Lady Bone Demon's original power source for her mech was MK, then switching to the Samadhi Fire later when that comes into play. LBD in ROTSQ, s2, and s3 threatens to erase the memory of Wukong/the world/Macaque, which is something that is notably absent in the s3 special. MK (plus maybe Wukong) being the original power source would help to explain why LBD wanted MK (+ Wukong) all throughout s3, and why she didn't immediately go ahead with her plans. She only says "Now, I will undo the memories of this world!" when she's confident that she has both the staff and MK. If MK were a being related to memory, using him as a power source could be a real possibility for how LBD originally planned to erase the memories of the world—then moving to the Samadhi Fire to create a "clean slate" when that became an option.

Now, although it's based entirely in conjecture, I do think MK potentially has the power to "rip the memory of people from this world". We know so little about what MK actually is that a lot could be possible!

ANYWAYS.

When it comes to "is MK destined to become a harbinger of chaos or was it just the curse echoing his own doubts", I think it's both! After all, there's "a reason [he] was at the center of all these stories, a reason [he] can harness the power of the Monkey King himself!". We don't know that reason yet, but I'm inclined to believe that it's because MK is connected to the underworld/the scroll/memory in some way, like I've mentioned. However, I also think MK's own flaws and self-doubt will contribute to his walk down destiny lane, and MK will put on his own chains so to speak.

One of the major contributing factors of MK's arc has been his own lack of belief in himself (in contrast with his total belief in his friends), so that HAS to be resolved eventually. When it comes down to it, that's at the core of his character—it's why he can feel he's both too weak and too strong across seasons and still feel distinctly like MK. So, that same lack of belief is probably going to be what drives his decent into the role of "harbinger of chaos"—that and a number of other things I'm sure. His friends, Monkey King, his identity, his responsibility, destiny—it's all gonna culminate somewhere.

Plus these eyes haven't turned up yet,

(they also show up in MK's 4x03 vision), and we don't really have any concrete explanation for what the curse was/is, or why MK specifically was the one who could destroy it ("It wasn't in my power—it was in yours."; but maybe Monkey King could have finished it off after it had been weakened?).

There's a lot of arc left and a lot of things we don't know!

[dormarunt]

I think I’ve read all your Berlin reviews but I’m still not sure why you don’t like Dámian? For me personally he was one of the only new characters I actually cared for so now I’m scared that I missed something dubious he did/said

Oh no I don't think you missed anything! It's not personal to the character of Dámian; in fact I actually agreed with his view on love (as opposed to Berlin's; this was before it was obvious that they're both clowns in matters of love). I guess my reaction is irrational and based on the fact that my knee-jerk reaction was to see him as a "budget" Professor, and I thought his character only existed because Alvaro Morte had other acting gigs lined up and couldn't be in this show. (Of course, I could be very wrong because they couldn't have used Sergio as a narrative foil to Andres in terms of his view on love, since Sergio couldn't have been married for 20+ years).

I honestly didn't even realize I was negative about the man? I'm still pending a rewatch from episode 3 onwards, I hope to sound less like I have something against the dude. Especially seeing how one of the dumbass jokes I kept making about the new team was that I'd probably write Berlin/Dámian (or Dámian/Berlin) just because their ship name would be Darlin. I am a certified idiot, please don't think that I know what I'm talking about. ;__;

Dámian-related, Andres says that a heist needs one brain and for this heist, the brain is Dámian's.

I kept thinking about that line (which I misremembered and just re-watched to get right) and it sort of sounds TO ME like the heist was Dámian's idea?? Which is in line with my original thought that the gold heist was Martin's idea, and we know the Mint was papa Marquina's and then Sergio's, which means Andres' main contribution wasn't the brain but the ego and skill and dick-game. What do you think? Is Andres also a heist mastermind like his father, brother or Martin (and Dámian) and I read that line wrong?

(lol ironic how Andres was line ONE BRAIN PER HEIST PLEASE and then the whole team didn't make for a single whole brain between them)

[paradoxcase]

@turtletotem:

I actually don't think the exact nature of The Whole Alfred-and-Cristabel Thing is ever spelled out in the book. Smarter fans than me pieced it together, and once you know, a lot of things become a lot more clear. But don't feel bad if you need to have it spelled out to you in the end, because I sure did.

Well, I certainly don't have much of an idea right now, so I'll look forward to an explanation later if the actual books don't fill me in well enough

@wellhappybirthdaytomeiguess:

My favorite part in this chapter is the slowly growing horror on the part of Harrow and disgust on the part of Ianthe. Harrow ‘briefly contemplating atheism’ made me laugh way more than it should have…

Oh, yeah, I probably should have read that with a bit more weight to it than I did considering how strongly religious she is

Well, to be fair, Ianthe is only 22, and seems to be the type to think that anyone over 30 is too old to be worth anything.

That's fair, I could see her having that opinion

When it comes to Gideon the First, he IS using necromantic power. It’s how he drains all the thanergy from Harrow’s constructs. He just prefers to be a hands on type, and he seems to be the most physical of the Lyctors. And he and Pyrrha she establish the Second House. But good and interesting thinking on that duo!

That's true, the founders of the Second House would naturally be more physical/martial than the others, even the necromancers, but it's still pretty funny to me how little Mercy seems to align with the current focus of her House, so I'm not necessarily expecting all of the founding Lyctors to play to trope. But I think there is something going on with him

@eye-lantern:

I am very much not aroace but I gotta admit God fucking his Lyctors still took me by surprise. I knew they were being sexual between Lyctors but John had a responsibility and status that could have prevented this, but considering who he is, as soon as the shock passed I felt like of course he would.

I'm glad it's not just me! Honestly, I have very little idea of what is considered a normal/expected amount of sexuality, I think, I do actually add romantic and sexual drama to my sims neighborhood, but when I do that it winds up being wild chaos with everyone dating everyone else and/or large groups of people winding up in complicated poly relationships and I know that's not realistic but I don't know where the line is, really

@wandering-minx:

Small note that doesn't really matter, it was Cytherea that suggested the weeny construct as a way to bypass the siphoning challange.

Oh, you're right! I must have misremembered because of Harrow's line about not having worked with something as small as the key Palamedes got her to make during that other scene