#and also i love it when puppet symbolism stuff

[imabiscuitinthousandworlds]

"Luck is my middle name. Mind you, my first name is Bad."

in other words i am obsessed with this guy (and yea the lady was probably described differently but consider this. i don't care)

[futzfuck]

HEAVY SPOILERS FOR MONKEY MAN!!!! GO WATCH THE MOVIE IF YOU HAVENT ITS REALLY GOOD DAMMIT!!!!!!!

Anyway

I think an overlooked bit in Monkey Man is how bleach is used as imagery and association. Bleach is often use is to remove stains from clothes/surfaces, disinfect things, and just generally clean stuff. I think this plays a lot into the revenge narrative central to the film, as well as offering a comparison/contrast to the villians’ methods of “removing India’s scars”

When the Kid first shows his hands he says they look that way from bleach and chemicals and calls them his CV. Now, without the mention of bleach this scene is still impactful within context, bc the Kid is indirectly saying that his life is defined by his trauma and the death of his mother (and maybe even his inability to save her). Hands are also a reoccurring symbol throughout the film in an of themselves. But back to bleach. I think mentioning bleach is important bc it depicts bleach as corrosive and something higher ups don’t want to engage in. “Give me the job no one wants to do, and ill do it.” No one at Kings wants what the Kid wants, and no one there is willing to cleanse the city and the establishment of its own corruption.

There’s also the fact that Kid’s pseudonym comes from the brand of bleach he uses at his job. By naming himself after the bleach he uses, Kid associates himself with an aggressive way of cleansing, which is kinda the whole message of Monkey Man as a narrative. It’s telling that the closest thing to a conventional name we have for the Kid just reinforces his purpose within the story.

Finally, the Kid bleaches his monkey mask before he goes to Kings for the final act. I think this is symbolic of him stripping away his persona of “Kong” that he used as a fighter from the mask, replacing it with the identity of Hanuman he has come to inhabit. The lighter fur looks more like the fur Hanuman is shown to have throughout the movie, both in the children’s book and the puppet in the stage play. It could also symbolize the Kid “cleansing his mind” of what remains from before he was saved by the hijras, and fully embracing his purpose.

Am i thinking about this way to much? Obviously but i don’t care bc its fun lol. Love this movie.

[sugarlywhispers]

Laysa … your recent lavagirl and Bakugou post was so 😋

1) Bakugou is about to crash tf out THIS IS NOT A DRILL 🚨‼️🙅🏾‍♀️

2) idk what that villain thought this was but lavagirl and Bakugou DO NOT play about each other frfr .. like the villain is soo cooked it’s not even funny

3) also angstier thought about this but like Bakugou was so torn up about slightly hurting lavagirl even though it wasn’t even her. So now I’m thinking about a villain that has a puppet control quirk and like they control someone completely but the person is still aware of what’s happening yet can’t stop it. And the villain sends Bakugou after lavagirl 😣. Like… she hesitated so bad even though the villain WASNT Bakugou.. imagine if it really was him 💔

Me thinking about how heartbreaking that would be:

(Sorry to be a Debby downer I literally just read this three part angst fic that had tears streaming down my face fr 🤕🤧)

NO, BECAUSE—

1) THAT VILLAIN IS FUCKING DEAD. LIKE, THIS IS NO JOKE. 🔥🔥

2) It's so not funny how Dynamight –the real one– is about to shred to pieces his own image. Like, think about the symbolism for a sec… NOT EVEN HIMSELF IS ALLOWED TO HURT HIS BEAUTIFUL AND PERFECT WIFE. AND THAT'S A CLEAR THREAT TO EVEN HEROES. NO FUCKING ONE GETS TO TOUCH Y/N. PERIOD.

3) ADKANXNDBAQLWIWYGSKDJSJS MY HEART. 💔💔 Just imagine—

Bakugou Katsuki is freaking crying, loudly begging, and desperately pleading inside his head to any possible god existing up there in the sky to fucking please… STOP. All as he sees you recoil, genuine fear splattered in all your factions and body stance while he is forcibly ordered to walk towards you. He can feel it, his body getting ready to attack against his own will. He's going to attack you. You, the most important person of his life. The person he chose to share everything with. Gentle and soothing touches every night, laying together in the same bed, before falling asleep in each other's arms. From small pecks of ‘hello’ and ‘goodbye’ to deep, passionate kisses that show how in love you're with each other. Gentle words that reassure how well each of you did for the day and even healthy arguments in which you worriedly reprend each other if the other did something stupid and put their life in danger. Either way, it always ended in a forgiven strong embrace of a hug and a touch of lips that means: ‘I still love you over all’.

It's not clear to everyone watching. It's not even clear to you as he approaches, deadly looking, ready to fight you with all his might –yet eyes turned white, void of any emotion, coldly inexpensive, and obviously in a trance that no matter how hard Red Riot or Deku try while throwing stuff or even themselves at Dynamight, they can not break the spell the villain has their best friend in.

Pro Hero Dynamight just looks like he's ready to kill.

To kill you.

No one can actually see the battle he is having inside his head with himself.

STOP. FUCKIN’ STOP! STUPID BODY!! FUCKIN’ STOP MOVING! DON'T YOU DARE HURT HER. NO. STOP!!!

He's howling inside his head, and it's no use. No matter how desperately and loud he screams in his head, he isn't in control of his body. But he can see. He sees and feels his body blowing away the stuff Izuku throws to stop him. He sees and feels when Eijirou puts himself in front of him, all turned into rock, as he punches and tries to pull Katsuki away; yet he ends up being thrown probably a kilometer away and against the bricks of a fallen building by the force of one of Katsuki's explosions.

Inside his head he grimaces at what he has done to his two best friends. They look pretty wounded, and it's all because of him. 

Fuck!

And Katsuki sees and feels his arm raising, cannon directed at you, who stand several meters in front of him quite unsure on what to do.

MOVE. DODGE. RUN AWAY. DON'T LET ME HURT YOU! FUCKIN’ FIGHT ME!! 

But you don't. Your lava completely retracts into your body, no longer standing in an attack nor defensive position.

NO. FUCK! DON'T! Y/N, DON'T!

His other hand raises, fingers directing at the side of the cannon that would activate the shoot of his accumulated nitroglycerin sweat that would bring hell into the world. Fuckin’ directed at you!

NO! NOOO! Please… No…

Dynamight fires.

Right at the last minute he sees Deku standing in front of you, fully ready to receive the blast. And then Red Riot in his rock form appears in front of Deku, fully receiving the blast. 

Mentally, Katsuki groans with relief. Kirishima has trained thousands of times with him, enduring his shots in his rock form. The red-head is strong enough to endure a blast like that one. However, the amount of nitroglycerin collected has been too big, even for what Dynamight himself is used to. He feels the recoil in his shoulder, he knows one more move and it will break. And he truly wishes it does if it means he won't get another chance to hurt any of you or his friends.

Yet when he focuses his attention back to the place where you were once the smoke dissipates, he freezes. Red Riot is fully knocked out, lying almost moveless on the ground if not for the slow intakes of breath. Deku is also down, a big portion of rock that exploded up from the ground over his legs that prevents him from moving it off him. Fuck, Katsuki knows if Izuku wasn't so weakened as he is at the moment he would be able to easily punch the rock away and fight him. But the villain had already taken care of tiring Deku a lot before Dynamight and Y/H/N landed on the scene.

And you… Oh, no… 

You are lying motionless on the dirty ground, torches of fire close to your body but not close enough to burn you. But the blast has been strong enough to even reach you behind two of the biggest heroes there are.

Katsuki is yelling in agony inside his head.

He still sees and feels his body move. Walking slowly but surely towards where you lay. Passing by the two completely beating up pro heroes like he doesn't care a damn thing about them.

Fuck! No… NO. STOP ALREADY. PLEASE!! FUCKIN’ STOP!!!

When he stands next to you, he moves you with his boot to lay on your back. He sees your beaten and weak body barely respond as he straddles your hips, but you're looking at his eyes. And he feels his own ready to attack again.

NO, FUCKIN’ NO!

His hand raises, palm open, getting closer to your face, heat increasing with each second that passes. He feels it coming, a big blast ready to shoot at your face. Ready to kill you.

Bakugou Katsuki is bawling inside his head, fucking desperate and metaphorically pulling the hairs of his head at how incompetent, how out of control he feels.

He's going to kill you, with his own hands, and there's nothing he can do to stop it.

And then… You smile at him. That loving and comprehensive smile you used to give him when he didn't know how to express his feelings. Filled with love and assurance.

Everything freezes again, including his body.

“I know you're in there, Katsuki,” you speak in such a gentle tone it physically makes the pit of his stomach contract in painful love. Both of your hands weakly hold the one a few centimeters away from your face.

His complete body starts to tremble, and you know that Katsuki is inside there fighting. He's battling to regain the power over his own body as hard as he can. You know your Katsuki is there.

Tears start to escape your eyes, but they still show the immense love you feel for the man above you. You know that even though he is about to kill you, it's not his fault. It's not him. Katsuki would never kill you. You trust him. You love him. And even if he does end up killing you, you would still love him.

“It's me, Katsuki. Y/N… Your Y/N,” you cry, one of your hands cups his face that holds an angry, deadly expression, his eyes still white and void of any emotion. But you can feel him trembling, droplets of sweat sliding over the skin of his temples thanks to the strength you know his mind is putting against the control the villain has over his body.

And you smile bigger, still looking at him with adoring love. Weakly directing his hand down towards your chest, right where your heart is. You press his hand against it, for him to feel the beats that jump against your chest for him. Because of him. Your beating heart that loves him. That lives for him. And that would gladly die for him too.

“All I… all I want you to know… is that… I still love you over all.”

You close your eyes, ready for the outcome that it's most surely about to happen. Ready to receive with open and welcoming arms the mutual friend every hero has: Death.

A real and loud roar escapes Dynamight's mouth. Everyone witnessing the immense struggle, the hard fight the pro hero is battling inside.

And then a snap. It feels as if someone cut something off with a katana, the typical sound the weapon makes as it slides heads off in movies.

You feel the hand over your chest leave its place forcefully, and when you open your eyes, that hand fires a blast towards the air. Katsuki's arm is raised over his head, palm open at the sky as the blast bellows in rage, just like the scream that came within his chest and out.

Katsuki eyes open as fire lightens above his head, teary ruby eyes looking down at you in deep relief and love.

You sob happily as Katsuki lets his body fall languid over you, but still putting his forearms on each side of your head to avoid completely falling with his weight over you.

“I love you,” his head is hiding in your neck as he takes rapid and deep inhales of breath, so you kiss his cheek several times while your arms surround his body.

Your Katsuki is back.

You help him turn to the side and lay on his back, body still trembling and breathing fastly. You know he's seconds away from losing consciousness, so you kiss him one more time, this time on his forehead lovingly. He relaxes and he's out.

Your eyes travel to the villain, who looks dumbfounded that your husband broke the spell and gained his control back. But when their eyes find yours, they gulp. You stand and begin to walk towards him, your lava activating with each step you give closer. Your eyes hold so much rage, your body lightening up and showing the demonic look you're known for. It's the villain's turn to recoil, unsure and afraid.

“Now, is fucking personal…”

[bibibbon]

Chap 429 made me realize I can't stand Class 1A anymore, I like individual students like Tokoyami but as a whole I can't stand them. Their bond is so artificial especially when none of them gave any concern about Izuku's well-being throughout the first year and took Bakuhoe's word immediately. Plus, they are mostly flakes riding off of Izuku's heroism and hard work during the Villain Hunt arc. None of them doing were jackshit about the criminals including "Symbol of Victory" Bakuturd until they remember that Izuku exists. The fact that Hori never lets the students addresses or think about Izuku's quirkless nature after the OFA reveal is something I will never forgive Hori for.

Hori tries so hard to glaze them as this unbreakable team of heroes, but he cheats using plot armor and plot contrivances to make his point seem valid but most of these kids would be dead if the villains were allowed to kill them instead of Hori holding them back with puppet strings. I hate to sound deranged but if some of the students had actually died during the first battle then I could see 1-A actually building a bond and realizing how precious life is and the dangers of being a hero then their concern for Izuku's well-being would seem more valid after all of the other crap they were ignoring about.

Lastly, I hate that damn poem that Hori claims was the inspiration for Deku because it feels like an excuse to justify his narrative abuse of Izuku and deny him any moment of confidence or pride in his achievements. This was supposed to be the story of the Greatest Hero not Class 1-A nobodies. Meanwhile he is too busy celebrating Bakuhoe's moments for during the bare minimum and fans on reddit and elsewhere eat up like its pure cinema or something.

Fair enough it's not that I actually hate class 1A but for some reason I can't simply believe that their dynamic is one of a little happy found family. I just can't and its probably because there's too many characters and we don't get the screentime needed for them to develop such a dynamic.

That is to say I don't hate class 1A like I love the individual characters like tokoyami, iida, jiro and I even love the little groups they have or at least the potential that was in those groups and dynamics.

It doesn't help that it's class 1A that gets the whole we are all heroes thing and the whole we will be there for you Izuku in the vigilante arc. I don't know it falls flat and becomes underwhelming simply because their dynamic isn't well built neither is it well developed. Also them saying they care for izuku seems like it's quite difficult to believe considering that we haven't seen them voice concerns over Izuku's injuries or even visit him during the first war arc when he was in a coma but maybe that's me saying too much because they were in a war and everyone was busy with stuff and trauma.

When it comes to the whole thing with bakugo I personally think that he was supposed to be a minor character for izuku to surpass but him being Izuku's symbol of victory and all of that shows us exactly that izuku hasn't DEVELOPED AT ALL IN THE SERIES!! izuku has continually been an incredibly static character and the ending shows that. Izuku still thought of OFA as a gift from all might instead of his own quirk, he literally never understood the wrongs of the hero system and he never stops viewing all might as this big hero who does so much. Like ugh this could of been things that izuku develops from and becomes a better person but I guess not.

Realistically many 1A members should either be

1) expelled (how is mineta and bakugo still there)

2) dropped out (Iam sorry you're telling me all of these kids parents let them contribute in this bs like are your parents that bad)

3) dead (you're telling me in a field of naive and not properly trained first years none of them have died really?!?!)

These factors would definitely make 1A closer to eachother and would show that they would care a lot more because of what they experienced and what they might blame themselves for what happend previously and it would be realistic/make sense within the series.

Also less 1A members would show just how competitive and tiring the hero course can be (proving aizawas words right) and it would also make the characters big moments that hori gave them have more actual suspense and impact within the narrative and plot.

I have mixed feelings about the poem and the post "the uselessness of izuku midoriya" while I do think it's a good post that shines a different perspective onto things Iam also just not a fan of the concept. I suppose it's because I don't think MHA was built in a way where it's story is a tragedy, like I don't believe tragedy suits the plot of MHA especially when it's not being treated as one.

However, I do think that it could be used as something that izuku starts with at the beginning and then develops into something much more. I think that having izuku choose the name deku and then developing into the name deriku would be fitting just how I would of liked for him to develop from someone whose acknowledgements and influence aren't recognised to someone whose achievements are recognised but not overly praised or anything of the sort something like having him be somewhat of a myth someone whose influence is known but works in the shadows (not literally) but he isn't directly known and isn't like all might. Ugh I don't know how to word it but I hope you understand. I suppose the closest example I can think of is Kim dojka (minus the angst)

(for context this is the poem I assume you're talking about)

Edit

I suppose this maybe better phrasing to what I was trying to say last paragraph.👇

[brittle-biscuits]

Why did I stay up late at night just to do this.

Basically: a concept of bags is that to me their twisted form usually reflects a character’s deepest desire for them but in a very twisted way. Lemme explain the designs here in alphabetical order (ooc warning!⚠️ Long Paragraphs):

Astro wants bags to accept his defect? Of having four arms, while also having a want to sleep with them at times, maybe forever, so I give bags a blanket, an insane look on their fake eyes(I forgot to add eyebags 😭), and a crescent moon with a sun thingy to show an eclipse(symbolising their need for sleep kinda), kinda forcing them to need to go to Astro for proper sleep, forcing reliance on him. The eyes on their hands just serve as something to put you off guard when hiding around them while the hooky things on their hinds serve as heels for support (they stumble cause of lack of rest)

Inspired by that anon who give Bobette’s costume for bags, I feel like we are quite literally a pretty gift for her, all to keep for her in a way. So the present wrapping veil is like a wedding thing and a gift wrapper obviously, while the horns are a reference to krampus (ironic). The boa? around their head is the same as twisted’s bobette’s furneck, which I tried to shape like a Christmas wreath, while the ribbons around their legs and wrists are referencing the costume, I added spikes to the back shins and that winter symbol on their front feet to show bobette’s want kinda. The puppet face thingy is inspired by Christmas dolls and Funtime robots.

Dandy probably wants us to be the same level as him in a way, so we are shaped to be somewhat big like him, so to make up his size, we make it up with speed, so I give bags several legs to add that creepy factor and show that speed while separating their head tentacles (mimicking Dandys petals). I purposely give them no harms to show how we have no control over how dandy transforms us in our twisted state. I added a tail to reference Shelly in a kinda subtle manner, like even when dandy likes us it’s clear we like Shelly more compared to him.

Pebble’s idea is innocent originally: he might like us like a parent figure, so I give bags a guard dog look with multiple legs for creepy factors again. They’re about as big as twisted coal but make up size once again with speed, along with really far sight range (better than pebble’s). They are more animalistic than the rest of their other twisted forms, adopting pebble’s mannerisms in a way and overall just being more unpredictable now, especially with guarding pebble.

You know that interaction with Shelly about the ankylosaurus? Yep, your now one (in a way…) instead of normal armour plates you now have spikes? I used spikes since I heard therepods have them and twisted Shelly is said to be based of a therepod so I used them. I also kinda give them a half-transformation like Shelly where their upper torso is somewhat intact (only the arms and chest are perfect). They are as slow as coal normally but will throw their tail around when agitated, but most of the time their docile unless attacked.

Sprout’s influential form is -tall-. Like the tallest amongst all the twisted forms, I give them a plant bulb on their head to include how sprout is kinda ‘growing’ on them, like getting attached to them (in his own way.) His seeds are basically growing inside us as if we are getting sucked by his ‘love’, the worms do not help whatsoever (worms in my stomach reference(when your nervous and stuff)) the long arms are just vines that are outgrown but act as sensors for nearby toons stepping in their space (in this form their blind).

Vee’s desire is a mantis, like you know when mantises mate the female it’s the male? Thats us and vee, but a thing to note is that we are smaller than her twisted form. More so bending to shellys height, we have a microphone tail to copy her while the false face kinda serves as a lure for prey (does NOT work on vee) Our antennas are like insect ones but the bulbs are like the same like Vee’s. I made this design since it’s based on the fan costume Co-host and that part where we are her ‘star’. (Literally.)

I’ll try to cook for more but I’m tired but if you came here this long then congrats for reading the whole thing without annoyance.

While these are interesting, the looks would have to be simplified down so hard to fit the aesthetic of the game.

[daemon-in-my-head]

Hot take, but I think Gortash has immense self hatred and actively choses to be miserable.

It would be easy just to go back home. His parents love him now. He has the money to fix everything. He controls them. There's no way they can harm him anymore. And yet he doesn't. He stays away, in his fortress, in his Iron Throne. In scarcely decorated places that lack most comfort.

It would be easy to use his money to look spotless, splendid, to blend in with society and be just like the others, just how his parents always wanted him to be. But he doesn't. Instead, he continues to be eccentric. And worst of all, he wears all the symbolism of the hell he's just escaped. The tormentor of his childhood is everywhere.

It would've been easy to discard everything and run away with Durge. He got them to defy their father to a frightening degree. If he had tried, he could've convinced them. It would've saved himself, Durge, both of them if he did. And yet he pushed forward, even knowing what he did and what end would eventually wait for him.

Gortash apparently knew the brain was changing. But he decided to do and say nothing about it. I love me some unhinged Orin but I'd argue she'd be reasonable enough to postpone her bloodkin lobotomy plans if she caught wind of an elder brain changing into a netherbrain thanks to said bloodkin doing funny stuff. They could've prevented this whole story if my guy had simply said something. But he decided to just, not?

He's deeply contradictory. He's a genius, but his mistakes and faults in his plans are evident to even the greatest fools. He's determined to be loved, to be a hero, and yet when he's offered love, or heroism he turns away from it.

Also did I mention that he's the one person who can legitimately turn on his patron but refuses to? Ketheric can't because otherwise Isobel is forsaken. Durge and Orin can't because Bhaal can just barge in and control them like the puppets they are, but Bane? He doesn't have a hold like this over Gortash. Gortash doesn't even seem to fear him as much as he'd like. And yet that man refuses to turn his back on a deity who will torture his soul for fuck all reasons without really receiving smth in return. He just keeps going knowing he can't win.

Oh and the whole 'putting Bhaals handcrafted scion on a leash' bit? Normal people would stay a safe distance away from people that can and will gut them for minor reasons, but he decided to understand that as a challenge?

I'd argue he's just an arrogant maniac, but the utter disregard of his safety kinda goes against that. Being a tyrant is cool but you can only properly tyrant if you're alive, and Gorty over here is making 0 efforts to improve his life or keep it for that matter.

[luxlisbons]

Voulez-Vous? - part i

Mencken's ego takes a hit when Harriet's eye wanders to the newly elected French president. In response, he engineers a grand state dinner, turning diplomatic affairs into a battlefield of jealousy.

part of the "before there's hell to pay" universe: part i - part ii - part iii

pairing: jeryd mencken x original female character. 4k

warnings: affairs, unhealthy relationships, dubious morality, explicit language, age difference, smut, religious imagery & symbolism, unprotected sex, pov first person, the french

a/n: lmao so... this idea came to be thanks to @rxgirlie and i's obsession with a current french actor known for playing a lawyer in a film (iykyk), so picture him as marcel reynaud (who will make his appearance in the second part). thank you so much to Kels and my friend Lu @nyheartbreak for proofreading and encouraging me to post this.

Read on AO3.

It all started with an online poll. The Buzzfeed type of crap you read while waiting for the clock to strike 5 pm in your crummy little open space office. 

“The definitive list of the 10 hottest presidents”

Usually, despite his very alienating politics, Mencken would place number one. What can I say? Everyone loves a bad boy, especially one they can fix with sex. Attention was brought to his steely gaze, the danger and confidence he exuded in his speeches, and his past as a 90s rock band member:

“Okay but 90s Mencken??? Twink goals, honestly😍”

“Mencken got me like 😱🔥”

“I never thought I'd say this, but Jeryd Mencken, you're kinda hot 😅 “

“He is such a silver fox zaddy 🦊”

His unofficial title became “Silver Fox in Chief”, and it gave us tabloid fodder for when we wanted to deflect from his racist dog whistles and controversial actions in D.C., which was a lot of the time for very obvious reasons. We were like puppet masters pulling the strings, orchestrating this wild media circus around Mencken. It was a classic ATN move, redirecting attention from the messy stuff and instead shining the spotlight on Mencken's supposed charm.

We brainstormed catchy hashtags and encouraged people to share their favorite Mencken moments online. It was all about creating a narrative that suited our agenda – making him this irresistible figure, a distraction from the serious issues at hand. We knew how to play the game, and damn, did it work. The internet ate it up, and suddenly, Mencken was not just a president; he was a phenomenon.

The internet had found a new obsession; fancams flooded the internet– from the way he adjusted his tie to the subtle glances he threw at the camera during press conferences. TikTok became a breeding ground for creative edits, with old concert footage seamlessly synchronized to modern pop hits, each video racking up millions of views and fueling the ever-growing fandom. 

Twitter experienced a constant Mencken presence. Anytime the president made a public appearance or donned a new suit, his name would surge to the top of trending lists. The online obsession transcended political boundaries; even those who vehemently disagreed with Mencken's policies found themselves unable to resist his allure.

His press conferences were now attended not just by political journalists but also by entertainment reporters eager to capture the latest juicy details about the "hottest president" phenomenon. Mencken, bemused and enjoying the attention, tried to redirect the conversation to policy matters, while also stoking the fires with quips and acknowledgments of his sex symbol status.

His fanbase (which consisted of both ironic and genuine fans) even created a nickname for themselves: the “Mencken Fuckers”. They organized themselves into a formidable online community. They created fan art, fan fiction, and even fan-made music videos that further propelled the president into pop culture stardom. The group's ironic name didn't deter their dedication; they wore it as a badge of honor, unapologetically reveling in their unconventional admiration for the leader of the free world.

One such video caught my undivided attention while doomscrolling through TikTok late at night. It was one created with candid moments in which I appeared beside him, laughing and talking with Lana Del Rey’s song “Let The Light In” playing in the background. The chemistry between the both of us, set against the dreamy soundtrack, fueled speculation and excitement among the Mencken Fuckers. It both amused and mortified me how close to the actual truth they were.

Caption: "Is it just me, or are these two looking like the ultimate power duo? 👀💼💫 #CloseEncounters #PoliticalChemistry"

Comments:

1. @ShipperSupreme: Move over romance novels, this is the love story we didn't know we needed! 😂❤️

2. @CuriousMinds: Are we witnessing the birth of a new power couple? 👫💫

3. @LaughingWithLana: Lana Del Rey's song just makes this whole thing even more iconic! 🎶🔥

4. @Daydreamer_Deluxe: I ship it! 😍�� Who needs reality when we can have this fantasy?

5. @RealityCheck: Wait, are we calling them #Menkenriet or #Harren now? 🤔

6. @CupidInTheComments: My arrows of love have found a new target! 💘🏹

7. @PoliticalLoveAffairs: Move aside, political drama; we're here for the romance! 🇺🇸❤️

I couldn’t help myself, I sent the link to Mencken, who after some technical wrangling on his part “I’m 54, of course I’m not gonna have Tik Tok installed for fuck’s sake” finally saw it.

The ringing of the phone cut through the silence of my empty apartment, startling General Meow from her nap and sending her scurrying toward the living room. I sighed, muttering to myself about the timing, and picked up after the first ring, feeling like a good little lap dog.

"Hey there, Mencken," I greeted, smirking to myself as I imagined his perplexed expression on the other end. "Ready for a little adventure in the world of internet?"

Mencken's voice echoed through the line, confusion lacing every word, "Harriet, what in the hell is going on? Why are people shipping us? Are we supposed to be getting something delivered?"

Suppressing a laugh, I explained, "No, Mencken, it's not about deliveries. It's a term they use on the internet when people want two characters or real people to be in a romantic relationship. They call it 'shipping.'"

There was a brief pause before Mencken asked incredulously, "Shipping? Like cargo and ships?"

I chuckled, covering my mouth to stifle the laughter. "Not quite. It's short for 'relationship.' They think we're the ultimate power couple, Mencken."

"Is this some kind of secret code or a new political term I missed in my briefings?" Mencken's confusion was palpable.

I couldn't help but tease, "No secret code, just internet slang. They're imagining us as this influential and glamorous duo."

Another pause, then Mencken's voice returned, this time more incredulous, "You're telling me there are people out there who think we're having an affair? With each other?"

"Yep, that's the gist of it. Welcome to the world of shipping, Mencken. It's a strange place," I replied, my grin growing wider. “And they've even given us a ship name – #Menckenriet. Catchy, right?" I couldn't help but enjoy the absurdity of it all.

Mencken sighed on the other end, probably shaking his head, "I can't believe this is happening."

"Embrace the fame, Mencken! Who knows, maybe we'll start a new trend in political shipping," I teased, still grinning.

There was a long-suffering sigh from Mencken. "I don't have time for this nonsense. I have a country to run."

"Your loss, Mencken. #Menckenriet could've been the political love story of the century," I quipped. 

As I prepared to hang up, he interjected with a serious tone, "Wait, do they actually know about us... you know, being intimate?"

My playful demeanor faltered for a moment. "No, Mencken. It's just speculation and fantasy. They don't know anything for sure."

Mencken sounded relieved, "Good. Let's keep it that way."

But before I could end the call, he added in a soft voice, "Clear up your schedule. I'm gonna drop by during the weekend." 

Since Rome, Mencken's hard veneer had chipped away. He made more time for me, wasn't as mean – well, still an asshole, but, as he put it, "Your asshole, sweetheart.” 

“Well, aren't you so romantic,” I mused mostly to myself, a wry smile playing on my lips.

“Yeah, well, I figured life's too short to be a constant jerk. Besides, dealing with you is marginally less irritating than dealing with most people," I couldn't suppress a laugh. High praise, indeed. Looking forward to the weekend then.

As the call concluded, I imagined Mencken shaking his head and muttering, "I'm too old for this." I let out a loud hyena cackle which leaves General Meow staring at me with her wide green eyes.

______________________________________________________________

And then the French presidential election happened. 

It was a tight race between three players, each one from a widely different part of the political spectrum. On one hand, the far-right candidate, the heiress of the National Rally, Marine Le Pen, was Mencken's pick. On the other hand, the incumbent President, Emmanuel Macron, stood as a centrist, aiming to maintain stability and balance in turbulent times. The third contender, Marcel Reynaud, a charismatic socialist from the left, caught the attention of many with his passionate speeches and a boyish yet distinguished appearance, with graying hair that hinted at wisdom beyond his years, reminiscent of a Dostoevsky prince.

As the campaign unfolded, Marcel Reynaud's popularity soared. His fiery rhetoric and genuine connection with the people resonated across various demographics. The public, weary of the traditional political dichotomy, found in him a fresh and appealing alternative. The French, tired of voting for the lesser of two evils, began to rally behind Reynaud, drawn by the promise of a new era and genuine change.

Reynaud's physical presence added an extra layer to his appeal. Imagine a man with rugged charm, grey tousled hair that hinted at rebelliousness, and piercing blue eyes that conveyed both intensity and empathy. His speeches, delivered with conviction, echoed a vision of a more inclusive and socially just France.

Election day arrived, and the people of France turned out in record numbers. The results trickled in, each update intensifying the suspense. When the final count was announced, it was Marcel Reynaud who emerged as the victor. The socialist left candidate had secured a historic win, breaking the stronghold of the traditional political forces.

As the news of his victory spread, so did the memes, fan art, and adoring posts dedicated to Marcel Reynaud. Internet users affectionately dubbed him the "French boyfriend," and hashtags like #ReynaudRevolution and #MarcelMania trended worldwide. He quickly dethroned Mencken as the hottest president online, captivating not just the French public but garnering attention on the global stage.

The internet was flooded with swooning comments about Reynaud's “elf” vibes, and fan accounts dedicated to his every move and policy decision multiplied. Memes comparing him to heroes from literature circulated, portraying him as the embodiment of a modern-day romantic lead. His charisma had transcended politics; he had become a symbol of a new era, both politically and personally.

______________________________________________________________

Mencken was not impressed. Despite being in his mid 50s, he still was a petty child underneath it all, mad about the spotlight being taken off him and given to a soy boy from France of all places. 

The ping of random texts, accompanied by a distinctive ringtone reserved exclusively for him, never failed to jolt me with a thrill, whether I was immersed in work or drifting off to sleep – a Pavlovian response he found pathetically endearing.

M "Just saw another damn article about Marcel Reynaud. 🙄 Apparently, he's the new poster boy for socialism. What a load of crap."

H: "Oh, Mencken, you're just jealous that Reynaud's stealing the limelight. 😏” 

M: "Another day, another interview with Reynaud. 📰 Can't escape the guy. Do you think he practices that brooding stare in the mirror?"

H: "Maybe he's born with it, maybe it's political strategy. 🤷🏻‍♀️"

M: "Thoughts on Marcel's new hairstyle? 💇‍♂️ Trying to figure out if he's attempting a political rebrand or just desperately needs a barber."

H: "Maybe he's channeling the winds of change through his hair. 😂 At least he's keeping things interesting. You should try it sometime."

M: "Harriet, tell me you didn't fall for the hype. 🤨 The French might adore their 'heartthrob,' but I know you have better taste."

H: "Of course not, Mencken. I only have eyes for the 'old and grumpy' type. 😉 

To that last text he replied with a hilariously outdated “fuck yea” meme, highlighting how out of touch he could be sometimes.

______________________________________________________________

In one of our romantic getaways,  (if you can call secretly meeting in a pre-swept room with Secret Service agents hanging outside the door romantic) he once again brought up le problème. 

We had dinner from Dorsia’s to-go in my apartment, with General Meow eyeing our food from her own seat at the table. I tried to make conversation but Mencken's answers were clipped, a subtle giveaway that something was amiss. I took it all in stride, already accustomed to his mercurial moods. I knew that he was stressed about something and that once we fucked, he would relax and the tension would dissipate.

Wanting to make up for missing a couple of our dates, he takes me for a drive around the city in a sleek black car with tinted windows, a partition separating us from the chauffeur. The sound of muffled traffic and a bossa nova playlist was our soundtrack, as we furiously make out like teenagers on their way to prom. He’s quiet except for the sighs that escape his lips. I get needy and he likes it, petting me the same way he does my cat. The similarity does not escape me. His hands begin to go lower until they eventually find my hot center and he smiles against my mouth as he realises I’m not wearing panties. Mencken's voice, low and husky, breaks the silence as he whispers, "You always know how to keep things interesting, Harriet."

I respond with a teasing smile, my voice a breathless whisper, "Well, Mr. President, I aim to please."

His fingers continued their exploration, tracing patterns of fire on my clit. “Mr. President? You're playing a dangerous game," he murmured, his lips trailing hot kisses along my neck as he slips two fingers into me.

The combined sensation sends shivers down my spine. I cry out of pleasure and I am thankful for the soundproofed privacy the partition offers us. Eager to reciprocate, my hand instinctively moved toward his belt, but Mencken halted my advance with a gentle yet firm grip.

“Not here, better in the hotel room,” he whispered, his breath warm against my ear. The promise of what awaited us hung tantalizingly in the air.

Our destination was a high-rise hotel he had booked, soaring 68 floors into the city skyline. It was quintessentially Mencken, reveling in the sensation of being the most powerful man even during sex. The car eased into a lull inside the hotel's basement parking lot, providing a moment for me to compose myself while awaiting the Secret Service's assurance that the coast was clear.

Mencken eyes me mockingly. “You do realise they all know what we’re just doing in here and what we’re about to do in that room”.

I roll my eyes and reply, “A girl has to keep some secrets. Adds to the intrigue, doesn't it?"

He smirks, a glint of amusement in his eyes. "Well, let them think what they want. It's not like we've ever been ones to play by the rules."

With a final nod from the Secret Service, Mencken opens the car door, ushering me out. The hotel's opulent lobby awaits us, and I can't help but feel a rush of excitement. The atmosphere is hushed, with the discreet professionalism one would expect in such an establishment.

He is rough, manhandling me immediately after we cross the threshold of the room. 

The door closes behind us, and the plush interior of the room envelops us in a cocoon. The dim lighting casts a sultry ambiance, amplifying the energy that crackles between us.

Mencken turns to face me, his eyes filled with a hunger that matches my own. With a swift move, he captures my lips in a kiss, his hands roaming possessively over my body. In the intimate space, he pins me against the door, a delicious urgency in his touch. His kisses travel from my lips down to the curve of my neck, igniting a cascade of shivers. The feeling lights me whole like a star. He grabs my hand and leads towards the floor to ceiling windows, the quiet city completely unaware of what is about to unfold. Mencken's eyes lock onto mine, a silent communication passing between us. With a heated intensity, he guides me onto my knees, the plush carpet beneath feeling cool against my skin. 

My hands find their way to his belt, fingers working deftly to release him. His cock is already half hard, forming a wet patch on his boxers. I pull them down to spring him free and my tongue reaches out in anticipation. In that moment, the world outside seems to fade away, leaving the two of us suspended in time. His fingers tangle in my hair, a silent encouragement to continue the exploration. As my lips inch closer to their destination, I can feel the heightened tension in the room. His arousal is palpable, the air charged intensity. I wet my mouth, preparing to take him in, and our eyes lock as my lips envelop him. A shiver runs through Mencken's body, and the room echoes with his moans of pleasure.

As the sensations escalate, Mencken's husky voice breaks the silence. "Harriet," he says, a blend of urgency and pleasure in his tone. I smile at him, as much as one can smile with a mouthful of cock. Yet, he knows—I look at him with such adoration as if I were in prayer and him my patron saint. The city outside may slumber in blissful ignorance, but within these four walls, I hold the most powerful man in the world in my grasp. 

I alternate between licking his length and kissing his tip, his skin flushing to a delicious shade of pink. “Adorable” is definitely not the best adjective to describe him, nevertheless it is the word that comes to your mind. Yes, this man who can be quite vicious and spew the most hateful vitriol can also exhibit a human side. In those rare moments when it's just the two of us, away from the public eye, I get a glimpse of a softer side that few get to witness. This only eggs me on, and I fasten my maneuvers until he can barely keep standing still. 

Just when I’m about to finish him off, he jolts me up and pushes me into the bed, covering me with his body, engulfing me. He stays still for a few seconds and places his wedding band covered hand protectively over my neck. He stares at me deeply and suddenly feeling self conscious I look away. 

"Harriet…” he murmurs, his voice a low rumble. His hand moves towards my chin and commands me to look straight at him. “Look at me, please”.

And I do.  His thumb brushes gently over my cheek, and he leans down to place a soft kiss on my lips. "You're incredible, you know that?" he whispers, his words a mixture of admiration and desire.

He seems more expressive tonight, a departure from his usual sour demeanor. “Yeah, I am very well aware of it, thank you for the reminder.” I decide to inject a bit of humor into the situation. While I appreciate this more open side of him, it's honestly weirding me out a bit.

He rolls his eyes, “Don’t get cocky.” 

“Shut up. Quick, kiss me again, old man.”

He smirks, leaning in for another kiss. Our lips meet, and the intensity between us reignites. We make quick work of our clothes, and he has me on all fours facing the window. I try to push away the thought of him imagining fucking the city in that egomaniac head of his. As he roams my body, I focus on the sensation, letting the pleasure wash over me. The position lets him get in much deeper, which combined with one hand pulling my hair and the other spanking me on the ass, makes me go crosseyed and incoherent. 

“Oh shit, fuck! Oh my god”, I gasp in between moans. This goads him into increasing his thrusts and to reply with possibly the most cliche response ever.

“Nope, just me”, he snarls.

“Ugh, just shut up and fuck me, you asshole”, I groan out both in pleasure and cringe. 

He pulls me up while still inside me so my back is against his chest. His calloused fingers come to rest on breasts and my clit, both rotating and pinching me in exquisite pleasure. Inside I get hot white and my vision goes out as the tautness that has been growing explodes. Mencken follows closely, my pussy milking him until he comes inside of me.

The soft glow of the bedside lamp bathes the room in a warm aura as Mencken and I fall in tangled limbs. With the air thick with a heady mixture of contentment and the smell of sex, Mencken, typically stoic post coitus, couldn't resist diving headfirst into banter.

His eyes wandered to the ceiling, contemplating the subject that had crept into his thoughts. "You know, I can't help but think about the French election."

I turned to him, raising an eyebrow, feigning innocence. "Oh, so now you feel like talking. Do tell. Is there a particular candidate you find captivating? Is this why you were so broody this evening?”

Mencken's lips curved into a smirk, his eyes glinting with mischief.  “Marcel Reynaud, the so-called heartthrob. I fail to see what the fuss is about."

I propped myself up on an elbow, ready for the snarky exchange that was bound to follow.

"Well, Mencken, not everyone can appreciate his charm. Or perhaps, you're just not into the whole 'French boyfriend' craze?"

Mencken scoffed, dismissing the idea with a wave of his hand.

“Oh, please! He's just another commie with a mediocre appeal. Looks like he belongs in some sad Eastern European gay porn."

I couldn't help but burst into laughter at his blunt assessment.

"Oh, Mencken, you have such a way with words. I suppose, in your eyes, only right-wing politicians can be easy on the eyes?"

Mencken grinned, his snarkiness unwavering. "Exactly."

Teasing him further, I continued, "Well, you can't deny he's got a certain je ne sais quoi. Maybe you're just jealous that the internet's boyfriend title slipped away from you."

Mencken scoffed again, feigning indifference, “Jealous? Hardly."

Chuckling, I replied, "Of course not, Mencken. Your appeal is far too sophisticated for the masses."

“Wait, you really find him hot? You have the most powerful man in the world in your bed but you still are thinking about some third-rate European lefty? He isn’t even a full president, he has a fucking prime minister!”

“Woah there, I thought you weren’t jealous.”

“I’m just disappointed in you. Really, what happened to your taste?” 

He has a plane to catch the next morning. So when he has enough rest, (“I’m an old man, remember?”) he fucks me once again after eating me out, another habit he has picked up from Rome. During the week I have to wear turtlenecks and scarves to cover up the love bites he left over my chest and neck. Immature asshole.

______________________________________________________________

His administration suddenly became very interested in US-France relations. I could practically see the cogs turning in his mind, the wheels of diplomacy greased with a hint of jealousy. The irony wasn't lost on me—the leader of the free world, concerned about a romantic rival from across the Atlantic.

One evening, as we lounged in my apartment with General Meow resting on his lap, Mencken couldn't resist poking at the issue. “Any thoughts on how we can improve diplomatic ties with France? Perhaps organize a state dinner, or maybe I should visit him on a diplomatic mission?”

I exhale a sigh, knowing exactly where he was going with this. “You're the President of the United States. I'm pretty sure there are more pressing matters than cozying up to Marcel Reynaud just because your lover thinks he’s hot.”

He grinned, a playful glint in his eyes. "Well, I just thought it would be a shame if our relations suffered due to my charming French competition." 

And so it was decided, a state dinner was on the horizon, orchestrated not just for diplomatic reasons but also as a subtle way for Mencken to flex his presidential prowess in the face of a perceived rival. It was not lost on me that, deep down, this was more about asserting dominance. Men and their petty egos.

In the weeks leading up to the state dinner, Mencken's text arrived, a blend of formality and subtle suggestion. "Pick something nice, my dear. You'll be seated with me and Marcel. Let's make it a spectacular evening."

[ressioo]

“Yes I did give Sig hanahaki”

if I recall correctly, Hanahaki(hope I spelt it right) is supposedly caused from strong unrequited love, so the real question:

Who is it from?

Oh boy, time to ramble about 3sig+, my beloved. Get over here @tenspontaneite

Hanahaki Peepaw exists in an au of our Assembly/Solar Flare crossover thing

These are the bitches Peepaw is getting his plants from (assembly Pibbles, Sigs and Suns)

Now, when it comes to the plants themselves, they're not strictly a result of unrequited love. One type comes from unacknowledged love (benign) and one comes from unreciprocated or lost love (malignant)

The former is harmless as long as the plants are trimmed back, they just kinda vibe. The latter will, in fact, fuck you up. Very persistent. Quick to grow n spread. A twisted version of something that was good, yknow?

(All of that is very much all sponty lmao, my worldbuilding juice has been mostly used up on solar flare)

Peepaw gets to experience both!! Because harming him is my favourite activity <3

Sig's plant is a Marble Queen Pothos (because i have one ive affectionately named 'Peepaw' after him. Symbolism also checks out). Pretty and green. Good patterns on leaves

The malevolent version however,,

White do be choking out the green. Wont kill him, but its sure making him very overheated (blocked vents cause of roots n shit, cant draw in or let out air to cool the puppet). He gets this version during a very, very bad year. Specifically because of loss, not because he's not loved.

So yeah. Fun stuff

[minnieposting]

i want to talk about robins trailer again!

following up from this post + a cool thread i saw earlier compiling lots of details i didn't notice in the trailer! (and the morse code post)

mostly really interested in the fact that this whole thing is filmed and directed by sunday

(sc from twt thread)

i said earlier that robin must feel like she doesn't want to let down both sunday and the family, both as his sister and the "pride of the family". but this clearly shows that he's the one pulling the strings, or at least one of them.

(as i type this out, i realize the usage of "pulling the strings" could relate back to the imagery of puppets we've been seeing. they are present in robin's trailer and also seen in the 2.2 penacony trailer)

(and of course, another puppet on strings...)

not sure where i'm going with this because tbh i got side tracked because i had the realization while writing. just some cool consistent puppet imagery, obviously symbolic, just don't feel like thinking about this rn lol

ANYWAY, my original train of thought was going towards sunday being a huge pressure on her, whether intentionally or not, he's clearly got his own shit going on... but i also feel like this gives new meaning to something else i pointed out a bit ago (post)

sunday is always right behind robin! she's always in the spotlight while he looms in the shadows. another thing tho, the same person who posted that twt thread i linked to pointed out that our bird friend is seen in the corner watching robin perform (x)

in the upper right corner!

(though, ive seen speculation that the bird is not sunday's but the dreammaster's! either way, sunday is still the most involved with her in the context of my post...)

now, going back to what i really want to talk about in the first place - director sunday. i do think this is more symbolic than anything, and coming from robin's perspective as this is her trailer.

sunday is a perfectionist obsesed with control and robin's public image may not be spared from that. she may feel that sunday is essentially breathing down her neck, whether or not sunday is aware he's making her feel like this. i've always thought that sunday's perfectionism and his obsessiveness have bled into his love for his sister and their relationship as a whole. again, she clearly does not want to let him down specifically, especially when they're supposedly working towards a childhood dream.

it's just! this whole thing about freedom, or the lack of it. robin is a caged bird and that's become explicit in her trailer. who knows wtf sunday's deal is, but he's also clearly under SO much pressure, he's the head of the oak family and ALSO needs to be nothing less than perfect. dude had a whole speech about it. i also imagine they both don't talk about any negative feelings related to this, maybe even wanting to keep up appearances around each other too.

i feel like i dont have anything else to say. i just mainly wanted to talk about some observations and stuff. i am very much looking forward to 2.2 coming out later, im SO excited to dig into sunday because he is the most intriguing and mysterious to me. their relationship is just so so so interesting, im so excited to see it in all of its glory later.

and mandatory note bc i am an anxious person, i do a lot of talking out of my ass and this is just exactly that.

(uh i scrolled up to read this post over and saw i linked back to a morse code post and didn't talk about that at all. well there's SOS morse code in robins trailer! that's fucked up! what else can i say)

[rolfe-dewolfe-fan-page]

SELF INDULGENT GENDERSWAP ROCKAFIRE FANTASY AU THYME

I Read ACOTAR once.

Everyone is a girl except 4 Marshall (Mitzi)

YURI BILLYROLFE COMING UP. Queer-platonic Beok as well!

(Some are more developed than others)

Background: Takes place in a fantasy world called "Rockafiria".

Rose Dewolfe (Demiromantic Bi Ace)- Fae: Her dad died before she was born and has mommy issues. Because of her childhood issues and such, her wings were always tattered looking. After moving in W/ Milly and Looney, her fae wings begin actually developing. (Something something healing from trauma symbolism) When her wings developed, they were very pretty, ornate, and pink. When she was taken in by Milly and Looney and found out about the apothecary, she was worried that they were going to harvest her, but they don't.

Gwendolyn Schmendolyn (AroAce)- An Elven Folk: Rose found her .(Rose thought she was a puppet) Not afraid to speak her mind. Has long hair and loves it. Is a bit of a gremlin at times.

Danielle Larue (AroAce)- Also a Fae: Grew up with a lot of siblings in a rather rough part of Rockafiria. When she was younger, she just didn't get how things that came so easy to everyone else were so difficult for her to understand. Likes flying around and wants to visit space one day. Meets Beach Bear at a market or smthing.

Fatz (Bi Curious)(Idk for a genderswap name tbh)- Bard/ : A leader at heart. Can keep everyone in order and is protective and mature.

Beach bear (Transfemme Unlabeled)- Bard: She's lowkey pretty chill. Lives near a lake and plays guitar.

Marshall Mozzarella(Unlabeled)- Ranger/Bard: Lives with Fatz. Is a teenager and is very outgoing and energetic.

Milly Bob(Pan)- Bard/Apothecary: Very kind and innocent. Her and Looney Bird work @ an apothecary called Sallie's. She found Rose Dewolfe in an alley beaten up by some rogues. She nursed Rose, who was sorta developing a crush on Milly, to health.

Looney Bird(AroAce)-Alchemist: Her and Milly work at the Apothecary together. She actually has a resistance to poisons, which allows her to test out the apothecary stuff to see if it works. Didn't trust Rose at first.

I'LL UPDATE THIS GUYS!

[wholoveseggs]

Camping anon here⛺️,, I’m so happy that you took time out of your schedule to expand and add onto my thoughts… I love how you describe each of the characters, even going into detail about Finn,, which is something I don’t see people do much. Which you are absolutely right about what you said about him. He is essentially just a symbol,, an object and he is used as such. He gets used as a plot device for the story to continue on, almost like a puppet…

I loved reading your thoughts on the others, you expanded a lot on why they are the way they are which is something I thought about doing but I didn’t want to write you a whole essay 😭…

Regarding Kol (my love), I definitely agree with you that Daniel Sharman is the better actor (for multiple reasons other than just his acting abilities…). He plays the character of Kol very well and conveys the emotions beautifully. I don’t know if you have watched it but he plays a character named Troy Otto on Fear: The Walking Dead,, Troy is borderline psychotic for a number of reasons,, the way he was raised and y’know the added stress of being in the apocalypse and having to lead a group of survivors,, Sharman depicts the character very well… I’d argue that he could have played vamp!Kol better… (I still love you vamp!Kol…)

Daniel also plays on Teen Wolf,, another show that you may or may not have watched. He plays Isaac Lahey,, a victim of abuse and he portrays the character in such a beautiful and accurate way. He’s incredibly talented as an actor and way underrated imo. Not to get into a Teen Wolf rant because God knows I will, but there’s a lot of talent on that show and some underrated actors who deserve way more recognition than they get and Daniel falls into that category.

~ Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with me 💜

p.s. I’m so dumb I’m just realizing you can change the font size and color and stuff even when you’re anonymous, I thought you couldn’t do that…

I have not seen either of those shows! He is a brilliant actor and I would love to see him in more things.

&& this is a PSA please send me essays about your favorite TVDU or HOTD character ... I love that shit, I gobble it up like a feral little gremlin.

[aroace-shumika]

do you have any other thoughts on shmk + flowers?? i know you mzntioned the cherry blossoms thing? but is there others

i’m so sorry. this got really really long by accident i’ve been yapping for the past hour. it is probably kinda messy i started as soon as i woke up KSLJHDFDFJK

HI. YES. my top two favorite shmk cards feature flowers!!

^ many more in hermitage card but theres the whole bunch fluttering down that shows up in le temps des fleurs mv too. i wish i could identify tehm but i cannot im not good at that. i might try though another time. or maybe just ask my friend lmao.

acanthe though has this really strong like symbolism of rebirth/resurrection/blooming to life and stuff though and in the mv mika has his eyes closed the entire time until he opens his eyes (COUGH AROUND THE ONE DAY ILL BREATHE A HEART INTOB YOU WITHA KISS LINE COUGH COUGH. I HATE THEM.)

and while he has his eyes closed the flowers in. whatever the fuck that thing is are kinda wilted looking and not blooming at all. and tbh i will not lie i’ve adored the acanthe mv forever its my favorite one (no bias here BUT ITS ALSO JUST GENUINELY REALLY REALLY GOOD. MY FRIEND SHOWED ME IT FOREVER AGO BEFORE I GOT INTOTHE GAME AND I LOVED IT THEN. ITS SO GOOD. VALK ON TOP FR) but i never. thought about the symbolism of certain things in it until now. like obv theres the flowers blooming once mika opens his eyes but theres also the fact mika’s side seems to have more. weeds? mika has little dandelions on his side. unless the purple flowers shu has on his side are also weeds then its just a mika thing which is. HM. thinks about mika not quite being where shu is at and having some way to go one improving and being his own person. thinks about his lines in human comedy abt making dreams come true and the dandelions.

anyway theres also a barrier between shu and mika there (physical in. whatever this thing is. and idk the phrasing but theres the bit where mika’s. yk. possessed ? question mark? lowkey unsure what it is in terms of the mv. mika says he wanted the story to be of a doll coming to life and not like. whatever the fuck happened to him in hermitage so it might just be mika being a doll there. i hate you two why are you like this. real on the nose there guys. fuck. anyway shu seems like. very guilty looking throughout the mv

i like when he looks guilty i like thinking about the guilt shu probably has. hehe. and of course theres the sobbing image that is. really funny out of context tbh. really good reaction pic. if you look in the middle theres a desk and in the mv theres like a bunch of papers that shu later sweeps off his desk angrily when mika doesn’t wake up which sorta implies to me at least that he has been Trying to get mika to wake up. cough cough stares at their entire storyline post ex valk of shu trying to push and guide mika into becoming human after how he treated him during ex valk COUGH COUGH COUGH.

and idk there’s smth about that barrier. and smth about them changing from being a puppeteer and his puppet to being equals. smth about shu clearly wanting to reach out/wanting mika to wake up and like actually Be There. the flowers only bloom and its all bright once mika has opened his eyes and once shu (and then mika) aren’t In there anymore.

mika also looks very like. that when he wakes up and doesn’t see shu there anymore and IDK. smth about his struggle in actually Being human without relying on shu for it and coming up with what He wants and his own ideas and all. there’s probably more i had to say but i forgot tbh but ANYWAY. SORRY THIS WAS SUCH A MESSY RAMBLE. BACK TO FLOWERS. SORRY.

blue roses in human comedy card IT ALWAYS COMES BACK TO HUMAN COMEDY!!!!!!! and when u google the symbolism this comes up

which is already. hhghfhhghhnghdfh. BUT BUT I SWEAR TO GOD ONE OF MY FRIENDS SENT ME A SCREENSHOT OF A DIFFERENT MEANING (prefaced with “i wanna show you the symbolism but i fear it might give you a heart attack” (smth along those lines (i was rambling about human comedy and dying. and it did kill me. so warranted.)) BUT I CAN ONLY FIND IT FROM A REDDIT COMMENT BUT

THIS AND MIKAS LINES IN THE EVENT ABOUT WHAT HE WANTS TO DO AS AN IDOL WITH SHU. BC SHU IS A SHINING LIGHT TO HIM AND HE WANTS TO BE THE SAME FOR ALL THE HURTING KIDS LIKE HIM (idk if i’ve mentioned it anywhere that you’ve seen it but mika grew up in an orphanage (why he has HORRIFIC abandonment issues and. so many of his problems tbh) and spent a lot of time looking affter the younger kids there and in this event when he was sent back by shu all the kids were like all over him bc they’d seen his idol work and they were so proud of him and so happy someone from their orphanage was doing something so cool and they wanted to be like him and its what pushes him to go back to shu bc AIUUSAGDSH. HE WANTSTO BE TO THOSE KIDS WHAT SHU HAS BEEN TO HIM. AND HE SAYS LIKE “just like how i met ya oshi-san! just like how i get to stand beside ya right now! dreams come true and stars (oh my fucking god i just remembered the sound of the stars event. and this line. IGNORING THAT) are within reach! thats what i wanna prove to all those kids cowerin’ in the darkness! thats the reason for my existence! the value of my life..!” AND THE BLUE ROSES. AND MIKA STANDING BY SHUS SIDE AS A PARTNER INSTEAD OF JUST A DOL WHEN THATS ALL HE BELIEVED HIMSELF TO BE. SOMEONE LIKE HIM COULD NEVER BE AS GOOD AS SHU SOMEONE LIKE HIM COULD NEVER BE ANYTHING MORE THAN A FAILURE OF A HUMAN. IM KILLING MYSELF. i’m gonna be nauseous actually oh shu and mika and their goals in their art being to help and give something to be a light to to kids who were just like them im gonna throw up . SORRY.

[lumalees]

I wanted to show off some of the creative work I’ve done this year (and also maybe practice posting on tumblr more), but I’m not a visual artist, so instead of an art summary, here’s a compilation of excerpts I like from the fics I’ve posted

this was done entirely on mobile so sorry for any weird formatting. this is a very vulnerable post in a lot of ways

ANYWAY. most of what I wrote this year was stuff for my insane “what if persona 5 was yuri” au. everyone should be just as obsessed with this au as I am. shuake being girls fixes just about everything wrong with p5 you gotta believe me

from here’s her house, all its doors are wounds. character study about the rocky transition from expecting to die to realizing you have to live

from a shell where the ocean is still standing. character study about girls who suspect they’re going to drown, featuring Ocean Symbolism (tm)

from phantom pains. fem!akira breaks into fem!akechi’s apartment and is sooo normal about it

from three nights at the ball. an exploration of the awkward not-really-a-friendship between sumire and fem!akechi

from walking towards tomorrow’s stars. extremely indulgent post-post-canon getting together (?) fic

from the generosity of cats and crows. a return to cringefail tsundere era fem!akechi, about trying to convince yourself you absolutely hate and definitely want to kill the girl you’ve been hanging out with a lot lately

then sam & max: the devil’s playhouse remastered came out and I went insane in a completely different and 1000x more embarrassing direction by taking a femshuake break so I could instead write about the funney cartoon animals

from the long and short goodbye. my pitch for a thrilling conspiracy theory about what alt max may have been getting up to before leaving his timeline

from the strings on me. a companion to the previous fic but with more puppets

from palmar grasp reflex. experimental piece about things that go unsaid when you primarily communicate via Banter. it felt weird and scary to lean so much on dialogue with simple tags, so if you want to praise this one specifically, please do so. especially the jokes, I worked so so hard on the jokes, please god tell me if any of them made you laugh (even if this specific excerpt isn’t funny)

finally, although I will Not be posting it here, I also started work on an original project I’m jokingly calling “yuri monogatari”. said project is perhaps best described as femshuake by way of sam and max, rendering the circle of stupidity that has been my creative output for the year complete

thank you remember to tip your servers love and kisses xxxx

[morimess]

So I went back and rewatched all of the Hachetfield stuff, and now I have some ✨questions✨ and also possible ✨theories✨

(I don't know how much has been talked about before in theory circles, so go easy on me if these are widely accepted theories or questions that have been answered a million times before)

1- The LiB and their altars

Ok, so first off we know there are 5 black altars and 5 LiB- it only makes sense that each altar was dedicated to one LiB in particular- but can be used as a general altar if the need calls for it.

I believe we can determine which altar belongs to which LiB by where that Lord showed up first in the series.

So Pokey's altar is the Starlight Theater, Wiggly's was the old mill (now Lakeside Mall), and Tinky's was The Gazette (in Time Bastard, we learn the Gazette eventually turns into CCRP- Paul and Ted's workplace), Nibbly's is the Waylon place, and Blinky's is Hachetfield High.

I'm pretty sure Nibbly's is the Waylon place because in Honey Queen, the CotSC bring Linda to the middle of nowhere for her to be possessed by Nibbly. I'm gonna run under the assumption that the Church would almost certainly bring her to one of the altars for such an important ceremony- but none of the other altars fit such an out-of-the-way description.

I also think that Blinky would LOVE the drama that goes on behind the scenes of a Hachetfield High, and something about him having an amusement park also tells me that he may enjoy watching drama between children more than he does adults.

2- Grace Chastity may have a touch of "the gift"

My main reasons for thinking this comes from Abstinence Camp and NPMD.

First, Grace was able to get the ax-man to turn on Jerry and Jeri after a single conversation. The ax-man also gave her his ax as a symbol of passing the torch to her to protect the woods. I don't think that would have happened without a little intervention.

Secondly, after the scene with Richie's death, Grace wakes up and says she saw Max- looking angry and not hot at all- and while I do believe it was mainly played for laughs, SHE STILL SAW HIM. I don't know if it *was* just a dream, but dreams have been used as shorthand for having "the gift" before, and I don't believe in coincidence with these shows.

I don't think she has a strong version of "the gift" but I do believe that it's enough that her having the black book will end up being a problem for everyone else.

3- Was the "ghost" of Ethan really a ghost?

This one may seem strange, but Ethan died pretty violently in BF- and he was also at an altar when it happened. That vision Hannah saw of him- was it just a puppet of Wiggly, or was it a little closer to what Max is?

Is Max just more powerful because he made a more violent promise as his last words?

4- The entirety of season 2 is the same timeline

This one is pretty self-explanatory, but the main gist is that, if it happened in season 2, then it falls on one timeline in the Hachetfield saga.

Yellow Jacket is the last event in this timeline, and it starts with Perky's Buds.

Every story in this timeline mentions the Honey Festival. While at the Honey Festival, we get clear signs that things tie together.

In PB- Ziggs is making the pin-up girl specifically to be their mascot to present at the festival.

In AC- I'm pretty sure Steph says that she's going to miss the Honey Festival

HQ- this one is obvious.

Daddy- the mother says she's going to pick up a new father from the Honey Festival- she comes back with Ted.

KT- Ted and the mother flirting. Zoey's roommate asking for something that will ruin Zoey's voice.

YJ- young Sherman sitting on the counter at toy zone.

That's most of them for now- I have other thoughts, but none want to come to me rn. I may update this later with more.

[sphinxlosestheirmind]

I swear I’m writing the fic- but more thoughts about it while I write~!!

I think that since they’re real people in this universe their ship names would change. Real-people fandoms seem to use their actual names fused together, so that’s how I think it would work in this au (meaning instead of gimmickshipping they’d be called like Reimaser or smth because I think that’s funny!!

Also yeah, Reiji and Thomas WOULD use their names or Thomas would at least have it somewhat public despite going by IV, but Ryoken is only known as Revolver. I just think that fits him better.

Anyway I also love assigning people emojis so here’s me doing that for just a few characters:

IV : 🪆OR 🧵 (The doll because like that’s sort of his puppet thing? I don’t have a puppet emoji so :/. The thread is symbolic of strings- like puppet strings. I don’t really know with him. His I did last and I feel least confident about).

Reiji : 📏 (Businessman!! I think this one was probably Thomas’ fault, he probably used this at one point in his videos and accidentally locked the fandom onto it).

Revolver : 🔫 (Revolver. Gun. Thank you).

Nasch : 👑 (Because he’s a king.. also Thomas HATES that he got this so much. There is so much beef between them for awhile but no one knows why. They settle it eventually off camera and come back way more chill with each other but neither will give a proper explanation as to why, so their followers are left scrambling).

Durbe : 🪽 (Because of his horse/pegasus!!!)

Merag : ❄️ (Because she’s icy. I think this one is probably started by Nasch? He becomes popular before her, and maybe he calls her icy/an ice queen or something and everyone picks up on that then assigns her with a snowflake).

Vector : 🎭 (He’s two-faced c:. He probably does those stupid public pranks/interviews. Everyone hates him but he’s also annoyingly funny and does those impulsive things that you’d never do but kind of wish you could).

Yuya : ✨ (Yes okay I get that he’s a tomato, but like I think a star/shine would just fit him better? Especially since in this au he’d be like a performer or someone who does tricks- but I could see a tomato so.. 🍅).

Additionally about Thomas in this au:

Thomas is a YouTuber/streamer. He started with gaming content and kept his persona very gentlemanly and polite. He got extremely popular, though more so with men who were interested in that sort of good-guy stuff. This devolved into him starting to show more of a sadistic side and collabing with other creators (Nasch, Kaito, etc) then pulling in their followers a bit. This developed into him somewhat coming out? I think he’d do it in a quiet way in some sort of unpopular podcast or something that makes it ambiguous to what he actually is but also hints at it.

This leads to a bunch of queer people coming into his community seeing as he’s like- one of them haha. He starts doing more daily/vlog type things.

So how I actually am writing him:

He’s a bit more calm around the two of them (Reiji + Ryoken) I think because he almost sort of has to be the one to keep them on a straight path. Both are very headstrong and get lost in other things so he has to lead them to where they’re going- otherwise they completely devolve into some other random thing.

He’s also a mix of gentlemanly yet manic. He’s not completely one way or another, and he can play up either side when it comes down to it.

Anyway.. just some thoughts haha

[latinokaeya]

ok finally out. this performance was sooooo lovely i think there was a particular energy from both the cast AND the audience today that made it so fun even if i did come alone this time. notes that i still have fresh in my brain while im standing here outside the theatre:

- forgot to mention this during intermission but i had a different mr d actor!! he was pretty good

- max’s percy in another terrible day actively shies away from mr d when he’s singing/yelling and actually goes off by himself to read the pamphlet he gives him and gets increasing more stressed while flipping through the book in the bg

- HOWEVER. was obsessed with the fact that this time i noticed everytime mr d is interacting with one of the campers percy got all nervous about the way he was talking to them and multiple times moves forward as if to put himself between the girls and mr d. SOOOOO insanely percy of him

- max’s percy in my grand plan is so involved with jessica’s annabeth and spends the entire time orbiting her carefully on stage with this fucking LOOK on his face. got to me so bad

- also i feel like i say this every time but i love the physicality and intimacy in the touches between the trio during act two. they love each other so much i will die

- strike number 6 for joaquin puppeting jessica during DOA. one day ill manage to phrase what i think i want this to mean

- ACTUALLY. fucking ACTUALLY. something i thought i noticed last time but i wasn’t sure if it was just me being delusional: at the end of DOA the trio do this like clasping hands prayer motion and Then a 🙏 and then fall to the ground. and when i saw that i was watching jessica so i was like this is so weirdly reminiscent of annabeth holding and then collapsing with her dagger in clenched fist during tree on the hill. and THEN i realised bc joaquin is the one puppeting her she’s always doing the motion over him before falling in DOA and it clicked for me. oh god it looks like annabeth is almost holding HER DAGGER OVER LUKE IN THE UNDERWORLD WHICH IS. CRAZY!!!!!! THE SYMBOLISM YOU GUYS!!!!!

- both joaquin and max were quite literally in tears shiny eyes and all during their confrontation in last day of summer full on choking up during their lines and percy kept on quietly begging saying shit like ‘wait please luke wait-‘ while he attacked him and it killed me.

- going back. i noticed this everytime but ive never mentioned it. i like how during the lightning bolt reveal grover isn’t able to choose between fully siding with percy or annabeth n actually flip flops btwn them. means a lot to me actually. trioisms <3

- there’s like for sure more stuff im forgetting rn but im standing outside the theatre freezing and it’s like 10pm n i gotta take an hour train home so. if i remember more ill add on lol. loveeee this showwwww

- WAIT IM WALKING TO THE STATION BUT I JUST REMEMBERED. grover also gets a “wow you really do drool in your sleep” to mirror annabeth’s in act 1 and i think that’s really cute. my trioisms will never die