#and forced to commit unspeakable evils in both

[laura-de-milf]

I just know the moment that will break me into a million pieces this season is when Rita finally calls Rouge "Laura".

Not Dogshit MacGivens, not Madame Rouge--a name which was given to her by yet another patriarchal institution that refused to value her work--but her actual human name.

We saw snippets of it at the end of season 3, with Rita almost referring to her as "Laura" to Larry before correcting herself, spitefully, to "Rouge"; we saw her slip in the post-flagellation confrontation scene when Laura flies away and Rita screams after her, "Laura!"

I just know it's going to happen at some point in season 4 and it's going to f u c k i n g break me. 🥲

[diejager]

Ok but like what about Wendigo reader? Maybe the team knows she's not exactly human but maybe in her file it just marked n/a and leaves it at that so they just assume that their sweet little medic is just a helpful spirit of some kind. Humans tend to give her a very wide birth since they seem to notice her as something they should leave the fuck alone, the boys just assume it's because of them always being near her and leave it at that. Till they're all on a mission and it all goes to shit, they're pinned down and then one of them ends up taking a bullet and reader just straight up fuckin losses it and next thing they know their is a 10 ft tall fuckin deer monster shredding bitches like their made of PAPER MACHE and EATING THEM, once the dust settles it moves towards them and slowly it shifts into their sweet medic but she is covered in blood and she just casually starts treating their wounds and the team is just like "Well mark me down as scared and horny" (if this makes no sense feel free to ignore)

Stag

Pairing: Monster 141 + Horangi & König x Wendigo!reader

Cw: cannibalism, human eating, greed, blood, canon-typical violence, tell me if I missed any. Wc: 2k (A/N): I felt a bit burnt out so I’m sorry if it’s bad, I reread it just in case, but it still feels bad.

They say that human greed is the source of evil, the all-consuming hunger for more —more than they need. Hunger drives humans to do the unspeakable, to break the line humanity had drawn and commit the taboo. Despite it being carved so deeply into the human psyche, passed down from generation to generation and the propaganda of humanism and equality, it doesn’t take much to make someone tip over, cross the edge nobody dared to and perform the unspeakable. Possession causes needs and needs cause greed.

That’s why people called to him for help, to carry out a clandestine mission to do their dirty work, his duty was to stop whatever men in power started, whatever men in power lost control —he was the one sent when they were scared. Fear was as coercive as power was. That was the reason Task Force 141 was first founded, to stop dangerous men like Hassan (Gaz remembered hearing from Soap that Ghost shot Hassan through the head, straight through him before he slumped down.) and Makarov, a man they were still searching for while signing a liaison contract with KorTac. Price, with Laswell’s help, managed to put the best of the best together: a wraith, a werewolf, a dragon, a harpy, a nagual and a cadejos vessel, all decorated with various medals for their work, and then there was you.

You were a mystery, even to Price who usually had clearance for anyone who joined them. Gaz knew, from a single glance, that you were far from human, you were a monster like Ghost was, turned after an occasion, or a hybrid like him. Surprisingly, Ghost seemed to welcome you warmly, albeit standoffish, having worked with you in the past, seeing that you both preferred working alone. Gaz wanted to show you the same heartwarming welcome as Ghost had, but there was something about you, an uneasiness he felt when he was around you. The others felt it as well, the innate need to keep their distance from you and the instinctual fear that had the hairs on their arms raised. Gaz could feel your eyes whenever you stared at him, like the eyes of a predator stalking its prey —it made him feel perturbed.   

You seemed so human, yet so inhuman-like, your dull, thousand-yard stare, your inability to feel temperature (either cold or warm, you always wore the same clothes), your odd habits and your unusual calmness in every situation. Gaz had caught you staring at a private for much longer than what people considered normal, eyes glazed over and dilated as if you were seeing something else, daydreaming while being aware of your surroundings. Those were your moments, you were usually bubbly, always smiling at him whenever his eyes met yours or treating him with gentleness and always eager to help him. You had a softness to your being despite the eerie feel to you and your unique tendencies, you didn’t discriminate, nor did you show an ounce of hate towards hybrids and humans, treating everyone fairly. 

Although you tried to fit in as best as you could, there were things that Gaz and the others just couldn’t shake off without questioning things. There was the lingering scent of blood on you, a metallic tang that stuck on his tongue after you walked by. König and Soap had confessed that they had a feeling that blood was a part of your scent, unwashable and impossible to hide, it clung to you like a second skin. They chalked it up to you being the Task Force’s medic, having brought people back from the brink of death and stitching men back together, you were practically bathed in the smell of blood and death every day. 

Another thought was that they never saw you in the Mess hall for food, perhaps a cup of tea or a hot mug of coffee to boost you through a long shift in the infirmary as the base’s main medic if you weren’t deployed with them. Gaz never saw you eat, not once had he seen you hold a plate or bowl with substance for yourself. You would bring either of them a plate, caring for them whenever they were under your watch, giving them soup or anything that they could easily digest. 

Gaz, Soap, Rudy and Horangi would chatter about you, throwing speculations on your breed, to see what hybrid or monster fit all your characteristics. You couldn’t be a wraith, your hands weren’t painted with death, a dark miasma that clung to you. You weren’t a werewolf, Soap would know, wolves were able to smell and recognize each other, it was an instinctual aspect of him. You weren’t any shifting hybrid either, there would be signs, little cues if you were one, and your classification wouldn’t be classified, painted over with a red line. 

All they could was wonder and amble around with curiosity dripping from their tongues. Gaz was sure that he’d find out soon enough, whether it was an accident or your choice.

This wasn’t what Gaz meant by eventually, he didn’t mean being set up by Konni, a trap planted for them in the small Belgium town. It was the best set to box them in, a broken and ransacked ghost town that people fled from, walls greyed and cracked, the paint peeling off street lights and rusted metal poles, lost, forgotten and open. There didn’t have any cover, even if they ran and hid behind the crumbling walls, Konni had them surrounded on every end, concealed behind concrete walls and using the shadows to hide from sight. 

It was chaotic, Konni had pushed them into an open area of the town, the centrepiece of it with a dilapidated, Greek fountain, chipped on the sides and green with mould, Gaz would’ve admired the architecture and the beauty it must’ve been in the past when it was still being cared for. They were backed up in a corner, Gaz couldn’t even stretch his wings out with how tightly they were packed together, the uncomfortable pull of his trapezius and the strain in his limbs kept him grounded. The tension was thick, palpable, Gaz could taste it in the air as much as anyone could, their shoulders tense, fingers tapping the trigger of their rifles. All they could do was wait for Konni to act first, to see where they would appear from and work their way out of this open area from there. 

He had his back towards you, he couldn’t see you but he could feel you shake. It might’ve been from the adrenaline pumping through your veins or the nerve of being lied to, of falling into a trap when Ghost had voiced his suspicions about the lack of clearer intel. They were paying for their amateurism. He felt you shudder, breath stuttering, near panting with exhaustion. Gaz wanted to turn to you, words soothing your nerves and twitchy appearance, he acted letting drown in your mind, whatever it was, he hated it. His finger twitched on the trigger, jolting at the sudden crack of bones, an ugly and painful sound that made him wince. It shocked everyone, even the ever so silent and stoic Ghost who had a hard time hearing these cracks coming from you.

Damn this mission; damn the trap; damn this situation, Gaz needed to look at you, to see why your bones were breaking and limbs rattling. Instinctively, his wings shifted to cover you, the ends widening to cover your sides to protect you from whatever pained you, yet you didn’t let out a single squeak, no moan of pain or the grunt of suffering, you were silent. A part of his mind nagged at him to move, he could fly and try to outrun Konni mercenaries to find a way out, but then he’d leave your back open. He cursed lowly, teeth sinking into his lower lip in frustration, he was-

A loud screech thundered through the air, and screams and squelches followed it. You were missing. 

You were shaking just a second ago, body wracked with some unknown ailment and the next, you were missing, your sack, attire, rifle and helmet were scattered on the ground, with a bony creature tearing through Konni ranks. The hair on his neck rose, an uneasy feeling overtaking him as he watched the creature rip men in half, tines stabbing through their torso like a buck fighting another, head lowered and antlers pointed forward. He watched the tall and thin monster move around, its face was one of a deer’s skull, eaten clean of skin and flesh, any muscle or fibre gone with whatever transformation it took. A crown of antler adorned its head, tall and imposing, as pale as its skull, a coat of black fur was wrapped around the neck, draping down the back like a ridge of fur. 

“Fuck,” Gaz hissed, his body moving along the chaos the being created and your disappearance, he aimed his rifle and shot at the Russians who ran out of their hiding, fearful of the monster’s sudden arrival behind their ranks. “Captain! Is that-?”

“Don’t know anymore!” Price seemed to be as lost as Gaz was, reining in his confusion to focus on taking Konni out. “Keep your head in the game, Gaz; ask questions later.”

Gaz knew Price was right, the town was brimming with Russian ultranationalists, hiding and waiting for their time to jump at them. The situation was still chaotic, but it was better than being without cover. Gaz followed Horangi behind a wall, watching his back while they worked through the humans.

Somehow, Konni either retreated or were all dead, swallowed down by the beast that stood before them. Now that Gaz was standing so close to it - to you, after a few minutes of talking back and forth, they concluded that this was you from the pants that hung from your slim hips - he could see that the deer skull was just a mask covering your face, black and unidentifiable with those bright, gleaming eyes that stared down at him. Despite your curved back, bent to look at them, you towered over everyone, even König seemed small beside you, limbs almost as long as you, fingers tipped with blood that you were still licking off, a long tongue wrapped around your digit to clean yourself from blood, muscle and guts. 

You were casually cleaning yourself up like a cat washing, even in the aircraft, you were gorging on the body of a man you picked up, jaw opening to show them the dozen of teeth before you clamped down on the forearm, tearing into the muscle with famished intent. None of them could take their eyes off you, their sweet, smiley medic who sometimes had their moments, devouring a man without batting an eye, obliviously uncaring of their staring. Gaz wasn’t sure if he knew how he felt, a warmth building up in his chest, a heat that seared into the fibres of his beings like an infectious thing. All they did was watch you eat, no one speaking until you finished your meal.

“Mind tell us what happened, Hunter?” 

You perked up, blinking at Price owlishly, tongue lolling out to lick up the stray drop of blood that stuck on your skull’s teeth. Your chest rumbled, a soft growl rolling off your body while you tilted your head, you acted so much like a feline, grooming, reacting and moving like a curious cat, dangerous, yet so appealing. 

“Wendigo,” you rasped, voice breathy and weak, you spoke in broken English, unable to speak fluently after turning, “Curse, eat human.”

Your little mannerism, the small tilt of your head and your fumbling hands, seemingly embarrassed or ashamed after your show of ruthless hunger and savagery was… eye-opening. Something stewed inside him, your being creating a ripple in his heart, pulling at the hunger in the depth of his gut. He was torn by the fear of having you as the potential enemy and the arousal of seeing you break men in half, painting the ground in crimson and guts, and satiating your hunger - craving - with human and monster flesh. 

Gaz was fucked, both in the head and the situation. 

Taglist: @craxy-person @crowbird @dead-cipher @iwannabealocalcryptid @iizx7y @mxtokko @yeetusspagheetus @capricorn-anon @perfectus-in-morte @sae1kie @yeoldedumbslut @tallmanlover @distracteddragoness @vxnilla-hxrddrugs @konigsblog @havoc973 @angelcakes-22 @cassiecasluciluce @ramadiiiisme @ramblingsofachaoticthinker @ki-cant-spel @im-making-an-effort @love-dove-noora @jinxxangel13 @daisychainsinknots @0alk0msan @mul-pi @danielle143 @virginalsacrifice

[ecoamerica]

Watch the 2024 American Climate Leadership Awards for High School Students now: https://youtu.be/5C-bb9PoRLc

The recording is now available on ecoAmerica's YouTube channel for viewers to be inspired by student climate leaders! Join Aishah-Nyeta Brown & Jerome Foster II and be inspired by student climate leaders as we recognize the High School Student finalists. Watch now to find out which student received the $25,000 grand prize and top recognition!

[knife-em0ji]

Sorry for this long post but can people stop treating Vader and Anakin as completely separate people. Like. That type of dissociation were obviously coping mechanisms by Old Ben and Vader. Not like. A literal fragmentation of personalities. Like if you love Anakin Skywalker imo you have to accept that he was a cute kid and a padme simp and a fun older brother and a boy desperately in need of acknowledgement and praise and a father who ultimately loved his son but also a guy who commits atrocities in his anger and strangles people who annoy him and has a victim/persecution complex (although admittedly for good reason) and was also a notorious child killer. This man contains multitudes.

Imo falling to the dark side/using the light side of the force isn’t marked by a shift or fragmentation of personality, but rather what emotions are used to channel the force and guide one’s actions. I think part of what’s so hard about resisting the dark side and coming back to the light is that there’s positive feedback loops of power, and resisting that by doing good and healthily channeling emotions is just plain hard. Especially in the case of Anakin, who is notoriously a “in for a penny, in for a pound” type of guy. He’s loyal and loves completely and dangerously with his whole heart, and he hates just as much.

And I think guilt is a huge factor with him struggling to do good; it’s pretty much a thought process of “Well, I’ve already committed thousands of atrocities and have countless amounts of blood on my hands, I have to believe whole hog in what I’ve been doing because then otherwise what was it all for.” I think that’s what makes his sacrifice for Luke so poignant, because it speaks to how much he loves his son that he’s able to overcome that spiral and do one last act of love for his son, unselfishly and without rationalization.

Idk, I just watched ESB again, and I think beyond just wanting to possess Luke and use him for power, it’s reasonable to think that part of the reason Vader wants him so badly to turn to the dark side with him is that he still thinks the dark side is the only way he can have enough power to protect his family and therefore keep them—he’s objectively much more powerful than he was in the prequels, and a main part of his struggles during the fall of the Republic was that he didn’t feel “strong enough” to protect the people he loved as a Jedi. He wasn’t able to free the slaves. He wasn’t able to save his mother. He wasn’t able to stop Ashoka’s expulsion from the order. He wasn’t able to prevent Padmé from dying. With the commitment he’s had to his path and the objective amount of power he’s amassed since the twins’ births, I think it’s reasonable to assume he desperately grasping at the idea that somehow, this time, he’ll be able to achieve what he’s never been able to do before. But his failure always lies in the fact that his motivations are, and always have been, ultimately self-serving, that his pride and fear of loss—which are completely understandable in moderation and not something he should necessarily be punished for—outweigh his real and genuine care for his loved ones and the galaxy at large.

Idk. All this to say that Anakin has always been Vader and Vader has always been Anakin. They’re the same fucking person, you fools! Stop taking dissociative rationalization literally!!! It’s right there in the text!!!! His return to the light does not negate his time in the dark and vice versa! There is good in him !! He is capable of unspeakable evil !!! BOTH ARE TRUE AT THE SAME TIME!!!!!

[fromriches-tosin]

would you agree if i say that eren understood reiner better/more than jean ever did?

Ahh, what an interesting question. 

I’m no Eren expert, but Eren definitely understands Reiner in ways Jean isn’t able to. Jean doesn’t know what it feels like to be a mass murderer. He doesn’t understand what it feels like to be inside of a monster, to be one with the monster, to breach Walls and to see people die under his feet. Sure, Jean killed some people and, sure, it was enough to make him feel terrible, but he doesn’t know what it’s like to have so much blood on his hands and be hailed a hero at the same time. Both Eren and Reiner were expected to be saviors and both of them agreed to do unspeakable things to achieve their goals. 

When Eren tells Reiner “we’re the same”, Reiner is terrified. When Jean tells him the exact same thing, he’s… almost relieved. Because in his eyes Jean is not a bad person. He’s not even close to being a bad person. Eren understands the darkness that found home in Reiner because he carries a similar one in his own heart. That darkness is something Jean is free of which in turn makes Reiner want to be like him. He wants some part of his innocence back. And whereas Eren has an in-depth knowledge about the sins Reiner committed, Jean knows only what a typical onlooker would know. Sure, he’s a perceptive person, he can peek at what’s hiding under the surface, but he’ll never reach as deep as Eren. 

Eren can relate to the evil in Reiner. Jean is focused on the good. He acknowledges the bad things Reiner did, he knows why he did them and he sympathizes with him. But that’s it. He was never taken under the wing of a man whose life he had destroyed, and he didn’t see the same man hang himself when the grief became too much to bear. Jean can feel Reiner’s pain, but only Eren knows exactly what it tastes like. I think Jean and Reiner might clash because of this at times – there’ll be moments in Reiner’s life when he’ll be thinking about the monster inside of him. The one that didn’t disappear together with the Armored Titan, the one that had forced Annie and Bertholdt to breach the Wall, the one that held Marco on the roof that day in Trost. 

Jean can be tough, rough around the edges and snarky, but he’s not cruel. Once he chooses violence, his actions are usually understandable (when he hits the soldier responsible for the gas supply in Trost, when he beats up Reiner in the forest etc.). Jean can’t find it in himself to be ruthless — unlike Reiner and Eren.

Jean is as quick to forgive as he is to look for good in others. Because of that he might be tempted to gloss over certain topics, he might want to close his eyes, cover his ears and tell Reiner to “move on”. Jean doesn’t think Reiner is a bad person by nature, he considers him a victim of circumstance. And he might be afraid to let Reiner relive those dark moments from his past. To let him become immersed in them again. “That’s not who you are,” Jean would certainly tell Reiner at one point or another, but those horrible things are a part of Reiner whether Jean likes it or not. 

That being said, Eren’s understanding of Reiner doesn’t necessarily mean anything good. They’re like two black holes, wanting to devour everything around them – and wanting to devour each other. They’re two unstoppable forces that keep colliding and fueling each other’s rage. And Jean is an immovable object that at one point had landed in Reiner’s trajectory and stopped him from destroying himself.

Eren appeals to the monster within Reiner, Jean appeals to his humanity. Eren tells Reiner to keep moving forward, to keep on fighting, and Jean tells him to stop and not to transform. Eren acknowledges the tragedy of Reiner’s situation because it’s eerily similar to his own. Thanks to the Paths he has a much broader understanding of what is happening around them, but despite this fact he still chooses evil over good. And that’s why I think what Reiner needs is the type of “limited” understanding Jean is willing to offer him. If he wants to stay alive, that is.

[mariacallous]

Omegle, the video and text chat site that paired strangers together to talk, ultimately shut down as part of a legal mediation with a female user who sued the company, claiming its defective and negligent design enabled her to be sexually abused through the site.

Omegle’s chatting service was shut down Wednesday, just a week after it settled a court case with a plaintiff identified as A.M. Her lawsuit, filed in 2021, alleged that she met a man in his thirties on Omegle who forced her to take naked photos and videos over a three-year period. She was just 11 when it began in 2014.

“The permanent shutdown of Omegle was a term negotiated between Omegle and our client in exchange for Omegle getting to avoid the impending jury trial verdict,” Carrie Goldberg, an attorney who represented A.M., tells WIRED. Attorneys for Omegle did not respond to a request for comment on the settlement. Emails to Omegle were not returned.

Omegle, founded in 2009, regained popularity during 2020 as Covid-19 lockdowns kept people at home. That popularity was, at least in part, driven by it becoming a place where lonely people could chat and also a place for sexual exploration. But its very design was different from other social apps: It instantaneously paired strangers on camera.

“Virtually every tool can be used for good or for evil, and that is especially true of communication tools, due to their innate flexibility,” Leif K-Brooks, Omegle’s founder, wrote in a note announcing the site’s end. “The telephone can be used to wish your grandmother ‘happy birthday’, but it can also be used to call in a bomb threat. There can be no honest accounting of Omegle without acknowledging that some people misused it, including to commit unspeakably heinous crimes.” K-Brooks’ note did not mention the settlement in his statement, but blamed the closure of Omegle on unspecified “attacks” against communication services.

There’s a flaw in K-Brooks’ argument: The telephone doesn’t connect children and teens directly to sexual predators with the click of a button. Omegle’s model allowed sexual predators to sign on and click through a roulette of people, continuously jumping from one to another until they were face-to-face with who they were looking for.

Omegle has a long, problematic history of sexual abuse issues. In August, a man was sentenced to 16 years in prison after admitting to chatting with approximately 1,000 minors on Omegle and recording many of them undressing. The recent settlement with A.M. stems from a $22 million lawsuit which claims the man who abused her had saved thousands of sexually exploitative images of children, including some of A.M. In 2022, a CBC reporter spent time on Omegle and found that the majority of the people she matched to chat with appeared to be men who were either naked or off-camera.

In 2022, there were 608,601 reports of child exploitation on Omegle to the nonprofit National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s CyberTipline. Of all the sites the center tracked, only Facebook, Google, Instagram, and WhatsApp ranked higher.

In the US, social platforms are often protected by Section 230, a broad act that shields them from liability for the content their users post. But the judge in A.M.’s case found last July that Omegle’s design was at fault and it was not protected by Section 230: It could have worked to prevent matches between minors and adults before sexual content was even sent, the judge said.

K-Brooks wrote that he took a “good Samaritan” approach “to implement reasonable measures to fight crime and other misuse.” That included “basic safety and anonymity,” as well as “a great deal of moderation behind the scenes” that used both AI and human moderators. “Omegle punched above its weight in content moderation, and I’m proud of what we accomplished,” he wrote.

Omegle ultimately was brought down by a lawsuit from a sexual abuse survivor. But abusive content will still circulate around the web, and it shows how far away a long-term solution is. “We’ve got to ask ourselves some pretty good questions about how we even permitted this for so long,” said Signy Arnason, associate executive director of the Canadian Centre for Child Protection, a charity focused on reducing sexual abuse and exploitation of children. “If we don’t address things at the regulatory level, we’re just waiting for another site to backfill what Omegle did.”

[sophiegold123]

Panel Presentation: Stranger Things

 "Stranger Things" is a popular science fiction horror series created by the Duffer Brothers. Set in the 1980s in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana, the series combines supernatural elements with a nostalgic nod to '80s pop culture.The story revolves around a group of kids, who encounter a mysterious girl with psychokinetic abilities who goes by the name "Eleven."  The group soon discovers the existence of an alternate dimension known as the Upside Down, which is inhabited by a monstrous creature known as the Demogorgon. Throughout the series, they also receive help from various adults. The show has multiple seasons, each building on the mysteries and challenges faced by the characters as they confront the strange and terrifying forces that invade their small town.

What concepts of Gothic doubling function to define the natural from the supernatural?

Whether it be the concept of “Gothic doubling” ( the divided personality of a character) or the concept of the “uncanny double”,  as described in “Postfeminism and the Supernatural in Penny Dreadful” as “ a dark force inside her that makes her commit unspeakable acts. Such force could be interpreted as her uncanny double, who, according to Saxey, ‘is typically a splitting of the hero,’ and whilst ‘[o]ne aspect [...] remains socially respectable, the other commits (or urges) terrible acts’ (2010: 67)”, there are many examples of “doubling” in Stranger things. For example, the gothic doubling of Will Byers and the Shadow Monster or (Mind Flayer). In the second season, Will Byers, a normal kid, becomes connected to the Shadow Monster, a malevolent entity from the Upside Down (a parallel dimension that is a dark, eerie, and dangerous mirror image of the real world). This connection creates a doppelganger effect, as Will's body is used as a host for the monster, and he is forced to serve its sinister purposes. This relates to the quote from the reading “ neo-Gothic fiction portrays an insidious Other that can neither be contained nor controlled.” It shows the concept of doubling as a supernatural evil force that takes control of natural bodies.

In what ways is gender performativity tied to the supernatural?

The character of Eleven in Stranger Things  possesses supernatural psychokinetic abilities . She appears to the viewer in Season One as a blank slate, free of individuality, gender, or identity after she had escaped from a secret government lab. The idea of gender performativity is that “being born male or female does not determine behavior. Instead, people learn to behave in particular ways to fit into society. The idea of gender is an act, or performance.”Throughout the series, we see Eleven as both vulnerable and strong, damaged and super-powered, androgynous and feminine. She is hard and soft, in other words boyish and girlish, as determined by stereotypical notions of gender.  All of these characteristics are quite literally embodied in her physical appearance, especially in her hair and clothing. Eleven’s hair, clothing and cosmetics are a sequence of physical identities that show how others decide to view her or enforce their own perspective onto her. In Season 1, Episode 4, the boys set out to dress Eleven according to what they expect a girl to look like. By making Eleven into a “pretty” girl, the boys have remade her as a person who fits the conventionally accepted elements of appearance for a young girl, who is delicate and weak.  Various styles and appearances are placed upon Eleven, but she doesn't determine or explain her own self-perception, this underscores the idea that gender expression and how one presents themselves are performative acts.

Aside from Eleven dressing feminine, whether she decides her own wardrobe or not, I think that being supernatural in general, and having strong powers, can often make these characters fit into a more masculine role, or obscure the gender binary. 

How does the series use the supernatural to liberate characters from oppressive normalcy?

Amongst using her powers to fight bullies and supernatural monsters,t hroughout the seasons of Stranger Things, Eleven uses her powers to fight against Hawkins National Laboratory. Hawkins National Laboratory is a lab that experimented on her and other child test subjects, and who continuously try to capture her. Season one episode 7 is an example: when the doctor and lab  threaten her and her friends, she uses her powers to flip a van, providing a dramatic escape and resisting the oppressive forces pursuing her.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTjmiwXRyXs (1 min 30 seconds in)

In what ways do Gothic doubles allow characters to transgress scripted gender that society imposes on them?

Another example of a gothic double in Stranger Things is when the Mind Flayer targets Billy and uses him as a vessel to once again carry out its sinister plans in the real world. In order to break free from the Mind Flayer, Billy has to simultaneously break free from scripted gender norms for men. In the scene where Billy sacrifices himself to the Demogorgon, he subverts the stereotypical tough and unfeeling demeanor associated with toxic masculinity. Instead, he displays vulnerability, empathy, and a willingness to protect others, challenging the conventional narrative of his character and, by extension, prevailing gender norms. The article assigned states “ Furthermore, in most neo-Victorian Gothic retellings, Freud’s uncanny ([1919] 2001) is revisited to explore the characters’ repressed traumas”. Throughout the series, glimpses of Billy's troubled past are revealed, illustrating the impact of an abusive father and the expectations placed on him. The supernatural elements surrounding his character force him to confront these traumas, as seen when Billy's facing of his past traumas allows him to break free from the Mind Flayer.  

One more example: Eleven  has a powerful counterpart or “sister” named Kali. Kali possesses psychic abilities similar to Eleven and acts as a sort of dark mirror to her. While Eleven represents good and empathy, Kali has a darker, more vengeful side. Kali encourages Eleven to embrace her anger and use her powers without restraint, challenging the conventional expectations of how a girl, especially one with supernatural abilities, should behave. Although, ultimately, trying to teach people to kill isn't good, she does teach her to use her power in stronger ways and shows her that her powers shouldnt be suppressed. She also gave Eleven a new hairstyle and put dark makeup on her, subverting the traditional feminine gender roles imposed on women. 

.

How are characters rewarded or punished for subverting their expected character traits?

Characters who subvert their expected traits often undergo significant personal growth. For instance, Steve Harrington starts as a stereotypical high school "bad boy" but evolves into a more caring , responsible, and protective individual over the seasons. Although the growth is a reward in itself,  Steve also makes genuine friendships, such as Robin Buckley. Instead of pursuing a romantic interest, he enjoys their platonic friendship. Also, he becomes an unexpected mentor to the character Dustin. He imparts valuable advice on dating, self-confidence, and helps in moments of danger.  Another example is Nancy Byers. She challenges gender norms by pursuing a career in journalism. Despite facing skepticism  from her colleagues due to her gender, she perseveres and works hard to prove herself. Eventually, she uncovers important truths about the supernatural occurrences in Hawkins. Her actions and discoveries have a positive impact on the group's efforts to understand and combat the threats from the Upside Down. Nancy’s character shows the reward of personal success that can come from subverting expected character or gender roles and prioritizing personal values over societal expectations.  

Questions: 

 The article states “Whilst madness and supernatural possession might allow female characters to speak up against patriarchy and gender oppression, their criticism is usually undermined by other characters in the series, and society in general, as the ramblings of a madwoman.”  Do you think that women who have supernatural powers compared to men are seen to be more “hysterical” or a dangerous ‘Other’ that cannot be controlled?

How do you believe individuals with supernatural abilities who perceive themselves as "monsters" are influenced by this characterization of themselves? Or how do other people considering them to be “monsters” affect them?   

Do you think your tv shows characters are successful in using their supernatural abilities to subvert or create an agency over whatever type of oppression they face?

[ecoamerica]

Watch the American Climate Leadership Awards 2024 now: https://youtu.be/bWiW4Rp8vF0?feature=shared

The American Climate Leadership Awards 2024 broadcast recording is now available on ecoAmerica's YouTube channel for viewers to be inspired by active climate leaders. Watch to find out which finalist received the $50,000 grand prize! Hosted by Vanessa Hauc and featuring Bill McKibben and Katharine Hayhoe!

[ceph-the-ghost-writer]

What my series of posts about the Unseen Hand factions fails to convey is that the leaders of this nefarious organization live as if they're on a sitcom together. Party of Five, or The Big Bang Theory but, you know, evil.

You have the main couple, a vampire and necromancer who've been in an enemies-to-forced-allies situationship for over a thousand years based on a mutual need to rule the world. Mergus, the vampire, is friendly and social and charismatic, so he takes care of all the PR, busywork, and hobnobbing that the necromancer detests. Hawthorne, the misanthropic necromancer, carries out all the godless, unspeakable sorcery behind the scenes that keeps their enemies in check and maintains a hold on their assets. These ancient monsters constantly try to one up each other, exchanging snippy texts and veiled death threats all the while, but neither would've gotten this far without the other--and they know it. Which just drives both of them even more out of their minds.

Next is the character who isn't in every episode. They're the wacky neighbor or ne'er-do-well sibling who shows up out of the blue, and when they do you know anything could happen. Ceph, the poltergeist, only leaves their room/shrine full of hoarded trinkets to write passive-aggressive sticky notes and cause in-fighting amongst the rest of the household. They can often be recruited to distract or annoy one of the others for a price--and at the risk of them turning on the instigator at a whim.

Then there's quirky, upbeat Tristan, the psychic vampire torturer. They're genderfluid and soooo funny! She wears rainbow shoelaces on her blood-spattered sneakers and listens to playlists while committing crimes against humanity! You never know what he's going to do next which is part of the terror! Cue the laugh track!

Finally, Wes Mayer, the werewolf, and his great grandfailsons are the egotistical idiots. The guys everyone loves to hate. They try to solve everything through force and/or money, completely confident in their own power, only for it to backfire spectacularly. Bullying them is one of the few things the rest of the cast can unite on.

[bracketsoffear]

Abarat (Clive Barker) "Candy lives in Chickentown USA: the most boring place in the world, her heart bursting for some clue as to what her future may hold. She is soon to find out: swept out of our world by a giant wave, she finds herself in another place entirely… The Abarat: a vast archipelago where every island is a different hour of the day, from the sunlit wonders of Three in the Afternoon, where dragons roam, to the dark terrors of the island of Midnight, ruled by Christopher Carrion. (…)" Half of the islands in Abarat are night islands and most of the main bad guys work for forces of darkness trying to bring eternal monstrous darkness to all islands. Spoilers under cut"

Nuestra parte de noche (Our share of the night) (Mariana Enríquez) "A woman’s mysterious death puts her husband and son on a collision course with her demonic family.

A young father and son set out on a road trip, devastated by the death of the wife and mother they both loved. United in grief, the pair travel to her ancestral home, where they must confront the terrifying legacy she has bequeathed: a family called the Order that commits unspeakable acts in search of immortality.

For Gaspar, the son, this maniacal cult is his destiny. As the Order tries to pull him into their evil, he and his father take flight, attempting to outrun a powerful clan that will do anything to ensure its own survival. But how far will Gaspar’s father go to protect his child? And can anyone escape their fate?"

Can't speak of it in detail cuz I have not read that part yet, but the bad guys apparently succeeded in bringing forces of darkness to the islands.

[meydia]

Blood Meridian; or, the Evening Redness in the West (1985) - Cormac McCarthy

Rating: 10/10

Reading this novel was like being reminded that evil persists, exists, is stoked by the mechanisms that people before us have carefully or carelessly put into place, perpetuated by sons that learn only violence from their fathers, hoping for easy solutions, for another whiskey or another fuck, onward into infinity like dancing bears on a very vast and dusty stage made of wood planks with ancient blood pooled in its cracks.

Just like its subject - the scalp trade in the Borderlands - McCarthy’s writing here is difficult to digest, forces you to slow down and absorb the horrors in their entirety. He lists these in excruciating detail - the gang commits massacre after massacre, unnecessary violence against innocent people, violence against people who fight back, violence against the people who employed them in the first place. All of these horrors are both fictional and real, based upon the actions of a real-life figure and leader of said gang, John Joel Glanton and his mysterious right-hand man, the Judge.

Yet McCarthy chooses to focus on the Judge as representative of true evil; supernatural in appearance, actions and worldly knowledge, the Judge states that “Whatever exists in creation without my knowledge exists without my consent.” After he records it tidily in his journal, we see him snuff out centuries, millennia-old example of human art with one giant hand - a scene that struck me strangely hard, considering that we had just seen him kill countless people, had been implied to harm children in unspeakable ways, had played the gang like a cruel fiddle for nothing but nihilistic enjoyment. And yet he is symbolically an imperialist symbol, consuming everything since he seems to truly believe in nothing but the tune of war and games of chance. No judge in the sense of justice - he holds court only in bloodsport and bloodshed.

And yet we see The Kid, our true protagonist, also born with a propensity of violence, show mercy; he helps; he is moved; he is unswayed by the Judge’s simplistic philosophy couched in the words of a skilled orator. We see him move on and become The Man. We see him kill, still; but he warns, he attempts to rescue others, he wants nothing to do with the game. He quits it entirely. His soul remained intact, and what happens at the end of the book… only happened because the Judge knew no other way to subdue it. And I think that gives me hope.

—

Personal note: I finished this book over a VERY long stretch - give or take 6+ months - but it was worth it in the end. I’m not necessarily a fan of historical novels, nor epic works, but occasionally I work myself up to it. I’m looking to maybe read Cormac McCarthy’s The Road next now that I’m used to his meandering style. I’m curious to know what people think about this book too though I’m aware that it’s already been dissected to bits and pieces everywhere on the literary internet and in reading groups and in universities.

A must-read for people unfamiliar with extreme violence and conflict, or those who want to learn about the Borderlands at the time, or if you just want to read beautiful descriptions of disgusting violence and a gorgeous, unfeeling and dangerous landscape.

[dhr-deleted]

2023 January - Uploaded

a-muse-ing (luna) Bloodletting (6KB - One Shot - R) Hermione discovers a secret Draco has while they are both hiding at Grimwauld Place. Draco's Salvation (91KB - 17 Chapters - R) This fanfic was inspired by Anlynne’s story; Unnamed (FF.net). I loved it so much I wanted to use her idea. I think my story has become its own but you may find some similarities. And yes, I did ask Anlynne permission to use her idea. Dragon Heart (59KB - 5 Chapters - R) No summary. No Words (9KB - One Shot - R) The final battle and Hermione Granger is separated from her friends, wandering Hogwarts alone until she finds herself face to face with none other than Draco Malfoy. No words are spoken. The Reluctant Bride (87KB - 12 Chapters - NC-17) Veela Fic; In the end, she was left with his life in her hands. "You wouldn't do they same for me, would you, Ferret?" Hermione gasped as Draco gently squeezed her hand. AU No Voldemort, just a lot of prejudice against Muggle-borns. 7th year The Reluctant Bride Slytherin Sex God (7KB - One Shot - R) Warning! This is a parody. It is not to be taken too seriously. Enjoy! Stay (11KB - One Shot - NC-17) Hermione Granger is home from her sixth year at Hogwarts. One night she receives some unexpected guests. Veela Fic #838 (9KB - One Shot - NC-17) Hermione Granger, head girl, was becoming concerned. The head boy, Draco Malfoy, was ill.

elastique (chronophobique) Next Time I'll Be The Book (11KB - One Shot - NC-17) Supposed to make Granger drink an antidote capable of reversing the harmful effects of her first poorly prepared potion, Draco found himself forced to follow the impossible witch into the Restricted Section, not knowing that what he'd see her doing in there would change his perception of her for life. Petrichor (18KB - One Shot - R) After he reluctantly closed a book he thought he already knew the end of five years ago, Draco would never have imagined that a curly brown-haired little girl with grey eyes who had a fascination for cats and puzzles would be the one to change the ending of the story. Maybe more fics/chapters on their twitter.

cklls Consequences and Complexities (630KB - 33 Chapters - R) Sequel to Covered in Crimson. It really wasn't his fault, but there were consequences to his actions. They would be dealing with the results for the rest of their lives. What does the future hold for Hermione? And how will Draco deal with what he's done? Covered in Crimson (366KB - 31 Chapters - R) Draco awakens in an unfamiliar place, having committed an unspeakable crime, with no wand, and no memory of how he got there. Will he save her from death, or will he be the coward he's always been? The Essence of Life (124KB - 3 Chapters - R) Fertility issues in pureblood marriages lead to desperate measures. Draco seeks out help from a most unlikely source, in a most unlikely way. Even Now (6KB - One Shot - PG-13) Draco has a one-sided conversation with someone very, very special to him... A story inspired by Barry Manilow's "Even Now." It's September First (4KB - One Shot - PG-13) Hermione wakes up a little late on September First Just We Two (228KB - Incomplete - R) Draco tells the story of his post-war descent into self-destruction, and how a chance encounter with a broken woman changed the trajectory of both of their lives. Two Out of Three (12KB - One Shot - R) There was only one woman he would ever love, so what was Draco doing in Astoria’s bed?

Lucissa Malfoy Breakfast at Natalie's (348KB - 33 Chapters - R) This is the sequel to my first fanfiction, Taboo. Breakfast at Natalie's takes place about ten years from the time Draco and Hermione graduate from Hogwarts. It's got romance, drama, mystery, angst...you name it. Taboo (128KB - 29 Chapters - R) Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Draco are starting their sixth year at Hogwarts. It is a battle between good and evil, love and hate. But who is good and who is evil? Who to love and who to hate? Can anybody be trusted? Beware, not everyone is who you think they are. Secrets are about to be unveiled in a dramatic tale of forbidden romance.

potterbrat Broken (167KB - 25 Chapters - R) Draco Malfoy has changed sides and is now working for the Order. When his father tells him it's time to take the Mark, Draco decides it's time to tell him that he's changed sides. Draco goes to the Manor, and gets help with his things. Everything is running smoothly until they are surprised by someone who wasn't suppose to be there. There are some pretty dark warnings, but this is a romance, I swear! -- pb

TeTe91 (Geiko) Becoming Mrs Malfoy (250KB - 51 Chapters - R) Hermione is invited to a wizard convention and finds herself engaged to her enemy afterwards. Draco is frightened to become a Death Eater so he takes advantage of the mudblood. Together they find out that the other is not what they thought to be.

viridianatnight A Boy and a Girl and a Healing World (13KB - One Shot - R) But even as she thinks of him, she knows she would fall back into those gloomy eyes with one word. Hermione knows Draco Malfoy is the only person she wants—will ever want. A Vow in Foreign Tongues (47KB - One Shot - NC-17) She closes her eyes and thinks of England. She thinks of the last time she saw her mum, of the heartache she feels knowing she won’t be there today. Again and Again (14KB - One Shot - NC-17) Her best friends’ father… fuck! She needed him again. Daisies (9KB - One Shot - G) He held, he cherished, he even loved. Only to leave. Do You Feel It Too? (12KB - One Shot - NC-17) She was losing breath, losing herself to him. “What if I do? Feel what you feel?” Draco moved closer, eyes drifting from her lips to her eyes. “Then we’re fucked, baby.” Donec Mors Nos Separaverit (8KB - One Shot - R) “Marry me.” Dress / Play (22KB - One Shot - NC-17) More smut from your favourite DILF. It's so much porn. Just read it. Fuck (8KB - One Shot - NC-17) Just a goth Hermione and a shy, nerdy Draco and a blowjob in a library. Her Cherry Lips (15KB - One Shot - NC-17) “And you imagined those lips,” she said, pushing her thumb between his painted ones, “wrapped around your cock. Sucking you hard, hmm?” Draco’s lips encircled her thumb, his tongue lapping over her skin roughly. She undulated her hips against him in reward, feeling his erection against her arse again. “Go on, baby,” she cooed. “Suck.” Her Muggle Ink (20KB - One Shot - PG-13) Hermione hadn’t changed the mark, she hadn’t scribbled it out or made it worse. She’d made it better. Made it something beautiful. He lifted his arm closer, finding daffodils hugging the skull and snake, interspersed with pansies, and another flower. Hermione had grown a garden in his darkness, showing him how to thrive where he thought the sun couldn’t shine. If Life Were Simpler (24KB - One Shot - R) In another universe, where hate only came from academic rivals and haughty quidditch captains, our two lovers find each other. Maybe it could have been this way, if life were simpler. Le Portriat de L'agonie (15KB - One Shot - NC-17) When a portrait is placed in Draco's bedroom, he finds himself falling into the depths of the beguiling art. A young woman, stuck forever in a gilded cage on a vermillion chaise with no companion but him. By the time a connection is formed, it's too little too late. Like Real People Do (24KB - One Shot - NC-17) Draco Malfoy, twenty-eight years old, lives in a small flat with his pet cat, not charming, awkward, quiet, standoffish, prone to irritation, and a virgin. Little Broken Things (30KB - 2 Chapters - R) Because when Hermione Granger woke up this morning, she was expecting to find blood on her knickers. Because she didn’t see it last week or the week before and she thought it may just be late. When it wasn’t there for the third week in a row, her heart fell to her stomach. neé Granger (9KB - One Shot - G) Hermione changes the name on her marriage certificate the night before her wedding. Notice Me Not (47KB - 5 Chapters - R) One New Year’s Eve kiss with Hermione Granger changes Draco’s heart forever. When it leads into another and another and another, he’s sure he will never be the same. Patience & Permanence (73KB - 7 Chapters - R) Draco Malfoy has been blind for four years and no one knows. He's buried under secrets and friends who care too much. Hermione Granger is a healer who needs something new. She's healing from the war and nightmares she can't forget. Somewhere along the line, they meet and maybe Hermione can be the one to help him see again. South London Forever (23KB - One Shot - NC-17) One year following the epilogue in Various Storms and Saints. Tainted (13KB - One Shot - NC-17) Divorce is messy. Her best friends' dad's divorce is messy. She just wants to be there for him. Is that really such a bad thing? Tea & Clichés (16KB - One Shot - NC-17) “But I’m not a home wrecker and I don’t believe in labeling women as slags just because they know what they want,” she breathed out. Draco’s hands ran back down her thighs, rounding her knees as he spread her apart. Fuck if she wasn’t sopping wet. He leaned forward and for a fleeting moment, she thought he might kiss her. “And what is it that you want, Hermione?” The Virtue of a Good Witch (19KB - One Shot - NC-17) “The virtue of a good witch can save a soul on the edge of destruction.” Various Storms and Saints (500KB - 48 Chapters - NC-17) Mudblood. Hermione stared at the letters that besmirched her skin. They hadn’t healed since the day she was maimed. Warm Glow (13KB - One Shot - R) When the bed shifts behind her, she freezes. Hermione holds her breath as an arm falls over her waist. She feels the brush of a nose at her neck but the feeling of steady breath tells her the mystery person is still asleep. Pressing her lips together in silent anticipation, she lifts the blanket. An arm of stark paleness in contrast to her olive skin holds her—and she’s naked. Who Am I to You? (20KB - One Shot - NC-17) The war had taken everything from her. Inexperience took Ron. Fame took Harry. What would one night with Draco Malfoy take?

[bestworstcase]

I disagree with the idea that ozpin has for the greater good ethos if anything he has put peoples happiness/individual over the greater good multiple times ( if anything he could have did what the god of light did and the moment pyrrha said yes he would put her through the machine but he explained to her the process and gave her time to think about it and basically even during the fall of beacon and the salems forces coming he still needed her to say yes

the man created a global institution to systematically train child soldiers to fight in the forever war he’s prosecuting expressly because he believes destroying salem is a necessary step on the road to summoning omnicidal gods back to the world to judge whether humankind deserve to be spared from execution at the hands of his gods. he asked a seventeen year old girl to assist in the murder of a young woman barely older than herself so that they could make her the receptacle for what was left of that woman’s power, and gave her ONE DAY to deliberate—“by the end of the vytal festival” meant “tomorrow, when the tournament is over.” (not to mention tacitly allowing the wildly manipulative “we can tell you more once we know you’re with us” approach.)

he explicitly believes that it’s shameful to commit to something and then change your mind after new information comes to light, which goes a long way to explaining why he hasn’t tried anything meaningfully new or reconsidered his beliefs in thousands of years but also suggests that at least on a subconscious level he tries to ‘trap’ people by withholding necessary information until they’ve already made an irrevocable commitment—which is, indeed, precisely the approach we see him and his loyalists take with pyrrha.

he’s nice, certainly, and he cares about people and is clearly aware of and troubled by his own moral decline. but none of those things prevent him from being a deceitful, manipulative control freak who believes he’s divinely ordained to save humanity from itself and by extension that humanity as it is now fundamentally doesn’t deserve to exist. lmao like i’ve set before he’s not the Good One to salem’s Evil One, he’s a zealot and she’s an apostate and both of them are completely awful in perpendicular ways with tiny inklings of the better people they used to be and could become again if they really tried; and that’s a good thing because it’s a much more layered and interesting and potentially dynamic setup than your standard at worst lightly-tarnished good mentor vs unspeakably evil foe situation. why do you want him to be boring

[echo-of-starlight]

Tell us about Phaneia !

Thanks so much for the ask @swtorpadawan! It was a little hard to decide how best to answer this. I quickly discarded any thought of bulleted points and eventually ended up using more of a narrative form to summarize the jedi knight storyline from Phaneia's perspective. Obviously going into detail about all of the story content we have available would have ended in a ridiculously long post (and this is already wordy enough as it is)... so I only took things up to a point - which I think gives a good enough characterization of her basic outlook. I'm of course happy to answer any more specific questions!

____________________________________________________________

Phaneia always knew she wanted to help people. At a young age she was found to be force sensitive and even then she understood that this gave her a unique ability to be able to do just that. She also understood the grave responsibility that would be placed on her if she chose to follow the ways of the jedi. She didn't hesitate to walk into that life. She was not afraid to stand up for what she believed was right. And she was not afraid to put herself between those who needed protection and the evils of the galaxy. She studied and trained hard, never wavering from the jedi code, and quickly became one of the youngest padawans to earn the rank of jedi knight. Her rapid rise in the ranks of the order did not diminish her humility or the compassion in which she viewed those around her. She tried to see the good in people and gave everyone she could the chance to turn back to the light. Her skills with the force, ability with her lightsabers and diligence to help restore peace to the galaxy earned her a key role in many dangerous and critical missions. It wasn't until her first encounter with the sith emperor that she had ever known failure. And oh how far she fell. Her beliefs were shaken to the core when the lofty goal of redeeming the emperor was shattered along with her mind. He forced her to commit unspeakable acts in the name of the dark side of the force and it was only through the help of her old master that she was able to find her way back to the light. After breaking free of the emperor's hold she slowly picked up the pieces and tried to mend what he had broken. She continued to do what the council asked of her even if she had doubts that she was the right jedi to lead on her assigned objectives. And through it all she wondered if she would ever do enough good in the galaxy to make up for the crimson stain that tainted both her lightsabers and her heart. When the Jedi Order asked her to face down the emperor a second time, insisting that she was the only jedi strong enough to resist his power, she couldn't deny the uncertainty she felt and the crushing weight of responsibility that had been placed upon her shoulders. She wasn't afraid to sacrifice her life, but she was afraid that she would be made to serve the dark side again. Knowing that she might be the only jedi strong enough to stop the emperor; however, she hardened her resolve as she knew there would be no peace until he was gone. Even if she couldn't defeat him she knew she couldn't walk away without facing him again, and this time she had no hopes for redemption. She trusted the force to work through her to finally bring balance and peace back to the galaxy - and overcame. The Jedi Order was quick to recognize her actions and soon she became their poster child - a role she would rather not have. Phaneia led when necessary and wasn't going to back down from her responsibility to the Republic and Jedi Order, but she didn't enjoy spending time in the spotlight. She continued to serve, now as a jedi master, facing hopeless odds and achieving impossible victories.

The emperor's seeming defeat gave her hope for a better future, but if she was honest with herself she still felt broken. It wasn't until the force ghost of her jedi master appeared to her on Rishi that she finally understood how to become whole again. She realized that the fragmented pieces of her heart and soul would only be mended once she had the courage to forgive herself. To finally forgive herself...of the guilt, the shame, and all the horrible acts she committed while under the influence of the emperor. Things changed for her on Rishi, but it wasn't the only thing that changed. Her unwavering adherence to the jedi code unraveled after a certain SIS agent was captured by a group of Revanites. In that moment she knew she would tear the place apart to get him back and the sudden realization of her attachment and even possible feelings for this man was overwhelming and unsettling at best. She admired his commitment to the Republic and his borderline obsession with his work. But if she was being perfectly honest, it was more than that. She enjoyed the flirty banter, the snarky remarks, and couldn't deny being attracted to his physical attributes as well. Throughout her time spent working on the revanite conspiracy she and Theron quickly realized that their mutual feelings for each other were more than just a passing fancy. Given their histories with the Jedi Order; however, both of them were well aware of the implications and risks of pursuing that sort of a relationship. Phaneia should have been hesitant. She wasn't a rule breaker. But she found that everything seemed to be more complicated when trying to make decisions where Theron was concerned. Maybe all of Theron's dangerous, thrilling and risky tendencies were rubbing off on her, but she found she was more than willing to continue the relationship in secret until they figured things out. And admittedly...she was falling fast.

Phaneia's new relationship wasn't the only thing that was mildly alarming in her life. It was brought to light that the emperor she thought she had defeated was not actually dead, but in an immaterial state. All of her fears, doubts, and failures were suddenly thrust upon her again and threatened to overwhelm her sense of self. But as terrified as she was at this revelation she also understood that the force kept bringing her back to this place. If this was her destiny - to challenge and attempt to defeat the emperor again - then she would face it head on, no matter the cost to herself. A call to the outer rim changed everything in an instant.

...Five years later she awoke to find the galaxy in chaos. The Zakuulan Empire was destroying both the Republic and Sith Empire alike. Worse, the former sith emperor was alive...using her own body as a vessel. And everyone was looking to her to fix it. She didn't know if they should place their trust in her. Every time she faced off with the emperor he seemed to find a new way to demonstrate his immortality. Regardless of her misgivings, she accepted her new role as alliance commander. The only constants in her life were her lightsabers, her deep connection to the force, and those who stood alongside her -  her steadfast companion T7, surprising ally sith lord Lana Beniko, and former SIS agent Theron Shan (who despite her worry, had never been able to break free of her spell). Their trust in her and support would be invaluable in the next stage of her life. Despite any lingering disquieting thoughts, the commitment she made so many years ago to uphold justice, to protect, and to find a way to bring peace to the endless turmoil that engulfed the galaxy was just too strong to ignore...

[theotakufiles]

To Strip the Flesh Manga

To Strip the Flesh takes viewers on a thrilling, heart-pounding journey into the dark and twisted underbelly of society. In this gripping series, we delve into the deeply disturbing world of serial killers, exploring their motivations, methods, and the relentless pursuit to bring them to justice.

Through a combination of chilling interviews with forensic psychologists, law enforcement officials, survivors, and family members impacted by these horrific crimes, To Strip the Flesh provides unprecedented insight into these real-life monsters. Each episode introduces a new case that has shocked communities and left investigators baffled.

As we peel back the layers of these gruesome tales, we uncover the unsettling psychology behind some of history's most notorious murderers. Exposing both their depravity and complexities as human beings, we're forced to confront how such darkness can exist within seemingly ordinary individuals.

With each meticulously constructed narrative arc, To Strip the Flesh examines every bone-chilling detail of these heinous acts - from planning to execution - leaving no stone unturned in our efforts to understand what drives someone to commit such unspeakable horrors. We witness firsthand the tireless dedication it takes for law enforcement agencies to gather evidence and build a case against these elusive predators.

Blending expert analysis with compelling storytelling techniques, this docuseries not only serves as a platform for victims' stories but also sheds light on how modern investigative techniques have revolutionized crime-solving. From advanced DNA testing to criminal profiling advancements, each episode unravels groundbreaking methodologies that have played pivotal roles in putting these deranged killers behind bars.

To Strip the Flesh is an unflinching exploration into society's darkest corners and offers crucial insights into preventing future atrocities from occurring. Prepare yourself for an intense rollercoaster ride that challenges preconceived notions about humanity while reinforcing the unwavering resilience of those working tirelessly to protect us all from evil's grip.

NOTE: This description highlights sensitive material involving violence and may be disturbing or triggering to some individuals. Viewer discretion is advised.

If you're a fan of captivating storytelling and stunning artwork, then I urge you to show your support for the talented manga author behind 'To Strip the Flesh Manga'. By purchasing the manga at gekimanga.com, not only will you be immersing yourself in a thrilling narrative, but you'll also be directly supporting the creator's incredible work. Don't miss out on this opportunity to own a piece of art that has captured the hearts of countless readers. Head over to gekimanga.com now and let your love for 'To Strip the Flesh Manga' shine through!

[scarletarosa]

Tar Spirits

These are a race of spirits that originate mainly from humans (sometimes other spirit races as well). They are highly malevolent (arguably the most evil race of spirits) and hate all of life, doing whatever they can to destroy it. The following describe what these spirits are like, how to recognize them, and how to defend from them.

Origin: When a human gives into their malevolent impulses during life such as wrath, sadism, selfishness, etc, their spirit gradually becomes more and more corrupted. If they begin to commit unspeakable acts against others and themselves, completely surrendering to their toxic impulses, they have taken the steps towards becoming a tar spirit at death. This intense devotion to malevolence eventually causes the person to go insane and lose all sense of morality; they are even abandoned by their higher selves. When this person dies, they become a tar spirit- a horrendous being made out of tar and pure hatred. They appear as leech-like creatures of tar with many mouths full of sharp teeth, or as strange humanoid beings of moving tar. The leader of these spirits is the serpent-god of evil, Apep. He does not live among them but will often command them to inflict torments on others. These creatures can also come into being from being spawned by Apep himself, dripping from his body due to his extreme corruption.

Mindset and Traits: The tar spirits have corrupted themselves so thoroughly that they believe morality to be an illusion; the act of descent is their idea of ascent. They relish in absolute chaos and suffering, both inflicted upon others and their own selves. They feel nothing but hatred and a desire for pain, taking great pleasure in this twisted way of existing. The tar spirits have lost all sense of love, reasoning, beauty, and compassion; the only thing they now enjoy is pain. The realm in which they live is a place full of flowing tar; many waterfalls of it fill the area and there is an overwhelming feeling of hatred here. It not only feels disgusting to be in, but is also extremely dangerous. The tar spirits all hate one another and when not harming humans, they harm each other by inflicting various tortures and rapes on their own kind. They all both hate and relish in their suffering since it causes them to become further corrupted.  

Since the tar spirits hate all of life, morality, and beauty, they focus only on death and dissolution. Their ultimate goal in existence is to destroy all of life, including their own lives. For this reason, if they come across a person capable of astral projection, they may eagerly encourage the person to fight them. They have appeared rather excited to die, expressing that they are only truly satisfied by the idea of absolute non-existence.  

What these spirits do: The main thing the tar spirits are notorious for is possession. While many have mistakenly attributed this to demons due to them being falsely labelled as evil, these corrupted human spirits are the actual culprits. In order to further corrupt humanity, tar spirits often target individuals who have allowed their minds to weaken from traumatic experiences. Due to theses peoples’ lack of hope and will-power, they are able to be possessed. However, possession is not obvious as how it is typically portrayed; it tends to be much more subtle. In fact, it is so subtle, that the person who is possessed doesn’t even realize that they are possessed. Once a tar spirit locks onto a weakened individual and goes inside their body, they begin to merge with the person’s spirit; which causes the higher self (the Ba, or soul) to abandon the body. This leaves only the Ka (spirit, or essence) behind, yet the person will not notice the difference.  

Once settled, the tar spirit will then begin to attempt at corrupting the person by influencing their mind to do malicious things such as abuse their children/spouse, commit murders, rape, become a cannibal, etc. Sometimes, the tar spirit may have their human only do specific things and not go overboard since they have a set goal; other times, they may try to do as much evil as possible. Though this does not mean that every abuser or serial killer is possessed, but many of them are. If the person surrenders to these impulses fed by the tar spirit (which they usually do), the individual will become thoroughly corrupted and there will be no turning back. Yet if the individual is exceptionally strong and can use their will-power to fight against these urges, they will not be corrupted; though this very rarely happens. Sometimes, the tar spirit can be banished in time to save the person before they become corrupted or before their higher self leaves, but if the tar spirit remains for too long, the person will remain evil even if the tar spirit is banished.  

Once the possessed individual no longer serves any use to the tar spirit, it will jump out of the body and go into the next weakened victim. Some things they often do are possess parents who they inspire to abuse their children, allowing the tar spirit to then possess the weakened child and make them an abuser as well. Many other times, they make someone a serial killer only to abandon them afterwards, causing the person to realize the totality of their crimes and commit suicide. Tar spirits also often attack other entities as well, trying to either harm them or devour their children. Another common thing tar spirits do is pretend to be a deity, demon, or some either type of spirit in order to seduce an unsuspecting human who contacts spirits. If the human falls for their tactics and is seduced, the tar spirit will have sex with their astral body in order to breed with them. They don’t actually care to have children, but do this in order to have greater numbers of their kind, allowing them to corrupt as many people as possible. 

Ways to recognize a tar spirit: The obvious way would be to use your astral sight to see them, or if you happen to smell their tar (which has a very foul odor). However, since these spirits are extremely deceptive, they often disguise themselves as different types of beings (such as deities) in order to earn trust. To recognize when you are dealing with a tar spirit in disguise, stay aware of these common tactics they utilize:

A supposed deity, demon, angel, etc. tries to convince you to marry or have sex with them when you hardly even know them. Tar spirits routinely manipulate unsuspecting humans into reproducing for them, or even forcing themselves upon others.

They tell you that you are very special and not like other people (they may say you’re a god, you have a special destiny above others, you are their own prophet, etc.)

They don’t let you speak/work with other spirits 

They may try to convince you to leave your close friends or lie about friends trying to betray you

They try to convince you that your negative habits/emotions should be embraced

They are toxic and manipulative towards you in general

How to banish tar spirits: Even though they are capable of causing great damage, tar spirits are quite weak unless, of course, they are accompanied by many others. One can astral project by focusing on opening their astral eyes and then summoning astral fire to engulf the spirit. When quickly projecting like this, it is common for a beginner to not be able to see anything in the astral, but visualizing your actions is key; as long as you do this, you have a good chance at succeeding. You can also request help from a deity or you can listen to specific spiritual chants that are sung at a certain vibrancy that tar spirits hate. One of these chants is the Tibetan Yamantaka Terminator of Death; when played out loud, any tar spirits in the area will leave. If a person is possessed, they need to be ritually exorcised in any way that works (an experienced practitioner of magick can force out the tar spirit and use a blessed athame to destroy it).

[fangirlshrewt97]

Underneath Your Clothes

Fandom: The Old Guard (Movie 2020)

Pairing: Joe x Nicky

Read on AO3

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You're a song Written by the hands of God Don't get me wrong 'Cause this might sound to you a bit odd But you own the place Where all my thoughts go hiding And right under your clothes Is where I find them Underneath your clothes There's an endless story There's the man I chose There's my territory And all the things I deserve For being such a good girl honey

- “Underneath Your Clothes” by Shakira

Nicky hummed mindlessly to the Italian song that was floating in through the open window. The singer was barely sixteen, but his voice was reminiscent of the great crooners. He always left with a tidy haul at the end of the day whenever he stopped by their corner. Nicky made a mental note to give him one of his pastries if he caught him before he left for the day.

The timer went off as the kid finished off his song. Nicky removed the baking tray into the oven, closing the door behind him with his hip. He placed the tray on the counter before turning off the timer. He smirked at it, a novelty “Italian Chef” timer Nile had gotten him for Christmas a few years ago. That had been a fun one.

He transferred the baked goods into a couple of large boxes once they had cooled and set the tray in the sink to soak. Once that was done, he cleaned the rest of the kitchen, satisfied only when the counters gleamed and the rest of the dishes were either put away or drying on the rack. Wiping his hands on the kitchen towel, he stepped away from the room. Rolling his neck, Nicky massaged one of his wrists, relieving the tension built up from a day spent rolling and preparing dough.

Glancing at the clock showed that it was 3 in the afternoon. Not bad for a day’s work. Checking the doors and windows were properly closed, Nicky made his way further into the house. Some of their down times were spent just catching their breath from a rough mission. Others, like this one, were to ground themselves back into the world, to remind themselves that their lives did not have to just be blood, vengeance, and seeking to bring justice to the evils of the world.

The breeze that drifted through the bedroom was tinged with the warm sunshine of the Mediterranean sun and the salty tinge of the sea. He leaned against the doorway, smiling softly at the sight that greeted him. Joe, sitting up with his back to the door, both hands in the air, fingers interwoven as he grunted from the stretching exercise. Once he finished, releasing a heavy breath, he placed his hands at the small of his back, curving backwards as far as he could go. The next exercise was placing his hands firmly by his hips and twisting his body until the cracks rang out. Nicky winced at their volume. Unfortunately muscle tension was not something that their healing cured.

Joe had decided to volunteer himself to help out with the renovations happening at the orphanage down the street because his husband had the largest heart that Nicky knew of. For the past three weeks they had been here, Joe would wake up without complaint when Nicky woke him at sunrise and leave for work. He would usually return after sunset, having stayed behind to wrangle the kids for dinner, hair covered in dust, plaster, paint, or on one memorable occasion, all three. Nicky occasionally dropped by to help with the kids, otherwise he occupied himself with cooking food for the crews and for the children.

But today was Sunday, so Joe had spent his day off sleeping most of the morning and afternoon away except for the meals Nicky had forced into him.

“Need help?” Nicky said softly as Joe grunted for the third time trying to stretch his arms all the way up.

Joe turned his head to see him quickly, shooting him one of his signature smiles. His shoulders betrayed his tiredness though. “I would never say no to your hands on me, ya amar.”

Snorting, Nicky made his way over to Joe, going around the bed to stand between his open legs. Gently, Nicky cupped the back of Joe’s neck with both hands and dug his thumbs into the space between his jaw and ears. Joe groaned, tipping forward until his forehead rested on Nicky’s stomach.

“Don’t stop.” Joe whined as Nicky moved to massage the back of Joe’s neck.

Nicky dipped down to press a kiss to the top of Joe’s head, the root of his palms  skating their way down his back in a firm press. Joe’s spine seemed to melt beneath his hands as his husband went floppy in his arms. He repeated the motion twice more, switching to a faster pace, and then to using folded fingers.

“Maybe you should take a break Joe, just because our bodies don’t stay hurt or ache doesn’t mean we cannot be sore if we push ourselves hard enough.” Nicky said while bringing his hands back up until they rested on Joe’s broad shoulders.

Joe let his head fall back, eyes half closed as he peered up at Nicky. “We are so close though Nicky. Just one more week.”

Nicky sighed. “Alright my love.”

Joe smiled at him and fully closed his eyes, nudging his head back into Nicky’s hands.

“Si, si, I am getting to it.” Nicky said fondly, bringing his fingers up to bury themselves in Joe’s curls. Systematically, he gathered the hair into two fists, squeezed, and then relaxed, moving to cover all of Joe’s scalp. He moved down to squeeze intermittently at his forehead, then to his ears, tugging and rubbing at them. He pressed his thumbs to Joe’s temple, the hum from his husband’s throat vibrating through his hands. A firm swipe down his proud nose, another two across the faint field of freckles spotted near the bridge of his nose. Strong hold of the jaw, fingers curling through the beard.

When Joe was halfway to sleep, Nicky leaned down to press a kiss to the corner of his mouth. And then another two over his closed eyelids.

Joe’s eyes fluttered open. “Hayati, I love you more than anything in this world, and will give it to you if you ask me.”

Nicky raised an eyebrow when Joe paused.  “But?”

“But I will fall asleep on you if you try to have sex with me right now.” Joe said sincerely, and with regret in his eyes.

Nicky laughed, fondness overflowing from his heart at his ridiculous fool.

“I will do my best not to have sex with you now then.”

Joe let out a mournful whine which just made Nicky laugh harder. It seemed to increase in volume when he stepped away from the reach of Joe’s outstretched hands.

“Oh you will survive Joe.” Nicky said as he walked over to their dresser. He hummed as he sorted through the contents of the drawer until he found the bottle he was looking for.

Opening it, he inhaled deeply, a content smile forming as the soothing scent of sandalwood and rose oil rose to greet him. Turning around, Nicky snorted at the sight. Joe was leaning back on the bed, body weight resting on his elbows as his head tipped back. The line of this throat called to Nicky.  

Moving towards him, Nicky placed the oil on the bedside table. He then gently pushed at Joe’s shoulders, the gentle shove enough to send Joe falling fully against the mattress. Carefully, Nicky threw a leg across Joe’s lap, hands running over his chest before they paused at the topmost button of his shirt.

“I thought you said we weren’t having sex.” Joe pouted at him, hands coming up instinctively to rest at Nicky’s hips, their warmth seeping through the thin cotton t-shirt Nicky had on.  He sometimes wondered if it would be possible for skin to indent from the constant press of something against it, like water cutting its way through a rock, or a leaf falling in wet cement. Wondered if at a microscopic level, his skin would be marked by the whorls of Joe’s fingertips.

“We aren’t.” Nicky said as he unbuttoned Joe’s shirt. He paused when it was fully open, lightly running his fingers across the length of the toned chest he could recall from memory.

In the later afternoon light, Joe was painted golden, and Nicky went dizzy with the wave of want that suddenly washed over him. So long together, and yet Joe made him burn hotter than anything else he had ever known.

Joe was his miracle, more than his immortality, a miracle in the shape of a man who had found it in him to not only forgive a man who had committed unspeakable atrocities against his people, but to love him so deeply, Nicky could feel it in his bones. The sun rose from the east, the Mediterranean was home, Joe loved him.

Joe let out a little giggle when Nicky’s fingers caressed his sides, a ticklish spot Nicky was not afraid to exploit when he needed it. That wasn’t what this was about though. Joe did not need a tease. He deserved a reward.

Humming in apology, Nicky set about stripping Joe down and manipulating him until he was laying at the center of the bed on his stomach, naked. Joe for his part let Nicky shift him to his heart’s content, settling heavily into the mattress.

After arranging him comfortably, Nicky straddled the back of Joe’s thighs, armed with the bottle of massage oil. Pouring a handful out, he closed it tightly before wringing his hands, making sure to oil them thoroughly. He placed his hands on Joe’s shoulders, thumbs settling near the start of Joe’s spine while his other fingers curled around the meat of Joe’s shoulders. He squeezed tightly, pushing his weight into it as he worked to relieve the knots he could feel underneath his hands.

Joe started moaning, a deep and heavy sound that Nicky tried to tune out lest they distract him.

Here were Joe’s shoulders, that had once slung an injured soldier across them, a child who had come to frontlines in the name of patriotism. He had trekked through the trenches till he’d delivered him to a field hospital.

Here were his arms, corded with muscles honed through fighting with scimitar and broadsword and gun, but also honed with the manual labor of tilling fields and repairing houses.

And here, his forearms, his wrists, his hands. Long fingers capable of creating masterpieces that could rival the artistic geniuses of the past centuries.

His strong back, his spine, which bent but never broke, that never stayed down for long. That did not bow in the face of injustice, and willingly took punishment to spare an innocent the scars that would not mar his skin for long.

His hips, which had seated countless kids when they had downtime during rescue missions, a throne and a safety cushion from which they could learn the old names of the constellations, and about seeing the beauty even in the war-torn landscape.

His ass, which Nicky would truly never get enough of.

Further down, his thighs, his calves, hard from decades of walking, running, marching, criss-crossing Earth. Nile had attempted to do the math once, to see how many miles they had walked in their long lives, how many times had they theoretically circumnavigated the globe. The average person from the 21st century would walk 110,000 miles in a lifetime. She had despaired trying to figure out if she should combined Nicky and Joe’s steps or count them individually, and then given up entirely when faced with Andy’s history.

His feet, soft only because of their healing powers, feet that had carried him barefoot over every terrain, through grass and sand and snow and sea.

When Nicky reached back up to place a kiss on Joe’s neck, he heard Joe’s soft snores.

Smiling softly, he pressed another kiss to Joe’s cheek and got out of bed.

He returned to the kitchen, scrubbing the baking tray clean and leaving it to dry. He grabbed one of their disposable boxes and placed two pastries into it. Checking to make sure he was dressed decently, Nicky jogged down the steps of the house just as the busker was placing his guitar back in his case.

“Lorenzo!” Nicky called, signalling for him to wait up. Lorenzo blushed, and huh, maybe Joe wasn’t so far off with his theory the kid had a crush on Nicky. He gave him the box, Lorenzo accepting it with wide eyes.

Nicky shrugged and looked at his sweetly. “You should eat enough to have the strength to keep singing.”

Lorenzo grinned and nodded before waving bye to him. Nicky watched until the kid had boarded the bus before making his way back home. Just before entering, he purchased a handful of dahlias from the flower vendor.  

Joe had shifted to his back when Nicky re-entered their bedroom, his arm slung over his stomach, fingers twitching as though they were searching for something. Nicky placed the flowers with the vase by the bedside table so Joe would see them when he woke up.

Walking one last time around the house to make sure everything was locked up, Nicky removed his own t-shirt and pants so he was in just his underwear. He folded the clothes neatly and placed them on top of the laundry hamper before he crawled into bed. Gently lifting Joe’s arm, Nicky settled on top of Joe’s chest, ears filling with the sound of Joe’s heartbeat.

A subtle hitch in Joe’s breath and the tightening of the arm around him alerted Nicky to his husband’s wakeful status.

“Thank you for the wonderful massage, cuore mio.” Joe breathed softly.

Nicky turned and nuzzled into his side, making him let out a laughing gasp. “Anytime, vita mia.”

Joe drifted back to sleep within a few breaths. Nicky laid awake for some more time.

Nearly a thousand years he had been by Joe’s side, had had the permission to touch him like lovers do. And yet the thrill of it was always present, the gift never unappreciated.

He did not know whether or not he would ever atone for all the sins he committed over his long life, and at this point he did not much care.  The only person who’s opinion mattered to him was right here.

Joe, who had seen first hand what Nicky had done. Joe, who had been killed by his hands. Who had killed him his fair share of times. Who had allowed him to stumble his way but never left him. Who had heard every secret fantasy and dream and fear Nicky had thought of, and promised to guard them. Joe who had been with him for every adventure and story this crazy life threw their way.

Joe who spent their vacation helping with renovations at an orphanage.

And here, bare between them, this was Nicky’s reward. Call him selfish, Nicky would share a lot with the world, but this was his. This love, this trust. This life.

Joe was his. His love. His territory. His sanctuary. His to keep.

[ramblings-of-a-mad-cat]

ok i know you said that reblog didn’t just refer to Rakepick (i’m assuming that’s who you meant by “her” but correct me if not) but i don’t really see how it could refer to her character in the first place?? if you could elaborate that’d be great cos i feel like it’s flying right over my head lmao

Happy to! As I might have predicted, I did get several messages about the post I reblogged so now I’ll try to clarify my feelings on this, as I know it’s been a touchy subject in the past. (This ended up being quite long, so...) @dat-silvers-girl and @heleneplays I thought you might find this interesting.

The original post was talking about shipping and the difference between enjoying character dynamics and actually projecting onto characters to see the relationship style you would want in your own life. I feel like both of these things can happen and that’s okay, but the point was that shipping two characters doesn’t mean you condone any implications that such a relationship would have in real life. Enemies to Lovers is a great example. 

In regards to fiction, I took that mindset a step further and talked about characters in general, notably villains. The same way we shouldn’t assume that people like a certain ship because they want a relationship like that in their own life, I don’t think it says anything about a person if a villain is their favorite character. Very often, villains are the most interesting or fleshed out. They have a unique relationship with the story itself as they are often the driving force or representative of its message. You could say that Harry Potter is a story about love and family...and Voldemort exists as someone who cannot comprehend either, to demonstrate their importance. Anyway, the point is that there’s nothing wrong with liking a villainous character. 

When I was growing up, it didn’t seem like this was a contested idea. It was actually common, particularly for villains who were seen as “cool” and many of them were. You’ll find few people who don’t agree that Darth Vader or Darth Maul look cool. However, in recent years, I’ve noticed that purity culture has spread to the point where liking a villain is considered questionable. It no longer seems to be enough, necessarily, that one is merely enjoying the villain as a character. Just like the idea of shipping two characters now means one must condone that kind of relationship in real life, sometimes it seems as though liking a villain is now tantamount to condoning their actions. 

Then again, there are people who feel sympathy for villains and attempt to justify their actions. Sometimes it’s due to a personal attraction. It’s a meme that people get horny for villains, and there’s probably some overlap there with folks who lean toward the “projection” style of shipping I talked about earlier, but never mind that. Other times, this sympathy can overlap with seeing potential in the character. There is a fine line, of course, between rooting for a redemption for the villain and arguing that they did nothing wrong in the first place, but these days it seems as though rooting for a redemption for the “wrong” kind of villain is something people take as an insult. (Severus Snape comes to mind.) Alternatively, people also seem to take it as an insult if you don’t believe the “right” kind of character deserves redemption. (This happens a lot with Princess Azula.)

Now all that being said, there is absolutely nothing wrong with hating a villain and just wanting them to go to hell and die. Like, that makes perfect sense. There are villains out there that we love to hate, characters who are so despicable that most people would agree they deserve a slow and painful death. Joffrey Baratheon is a great example. (Actually, a lot of Game of Thrones characters would apply here...) If a villain inspires true loathing from you, then paradoxically that also means they’re great, because they’ve been written in such a way that you as an audience can feel the evil. But this can become complicated if they overlap such despicable villains with the ones who have potential to be more interesting. It becomes complicated because of the aforementioned binary that now seems to be prevalent. The idea that everything one likes in fiction reflects what they believe should go on in real life.

Which brings us to Rakepick. 

Wow, we finally got here. I appreciate your patience. Rakepick is that character who has overlap. Whether we like it or not, she was presented as an ally for two years of the game’s story, before her betrayal. She spent a lot of quality time with MC and the other apprentices. We got to know her. It is not at all surprising, I don’t believe, that some of us see that “potential” to be more in Patricia Rakepick. But on the other hand, she sure has gone above and beyond in the effort to be one of those villains you just hate, given what she’s done. Having been part of this discourse, I think what’s going on is that the players who still feel a connection to Rakepick feel attacked by the players who ruthlessly condemn her. The players who condemn her feel insulted by the idea that players still like her after the terrible crimes she’s committed, after what she did to Rowan. No one is wrong here. Rakepick is a fascinating character who’s done unspeakable things. We do not need to fight about her. 

Everyone has different opinions about characters for different reasons. I have villains that I simply love because I see something more in them, or because I just think they’re cool. I also have villains for whom I feel the same contempt people have for Rakepick. Villains who I cannot stand and it makes me cringe to see their actions justified or considered - Cersei Lannister comes to mind. Likewise, there are just as many heroic characters that I love and adore, and some others that I find problematic. Others still that I flat out despise because of what they’ve done, villain or no villain, like Nozomi from SMT. Albus Dumbledore is probably the character I hate the most in fiction, even though he’s one of the good guys. I’m “Anti-Dumbledore” but when it comes to Rakepick, I don’t even like to use the term “Antis” because when a character is unquestionably a villain...isn’t it the default setting to hate them and root against them? 

Here’s the main thing. They’re fictional characters, first and foremost. They aren’t real, so it’s not like they know if we’re defending or condemning them. All of us are part of fandom to enjoy their story and share our enjoyment with each other. I feel like that should come before anything else. No matter if Rakepick is one of those villains you find “cool,” no matter if you love to hate her with how evil she is, no matter if you see more to her and wish she wasn’t considered a villain...or even if, like most of the HPHM fandom, you simply can’t stand her and root for a shallow grave...all of us have these opinions because we like HPHM. That matters more than our specific opinions about characters. Even villains. Even ones who have crossed as many lines as Rakepick.