#and what I'm wondering is why use that suit for the easter egg

[kamefoo]

THE PINK SUIT!!!!!!

[pitot-0]

Easter eggs for player's name (spoilers ahead if u wanna discover it urself!)

I'll be including the dialogues when you enter it as the name/nickname

-maleyanderecafe

"Clever, are we? Do you want a round of applause?"

"Well, then you should know how it ends..."

"Don't you?"

-C4, Candy, Lunar

"Haha, what a sick individual."

"Perhaps it's best not to act so innocent..."

"When you know what you are already."

-Alpha, P1

"You just wanted to be accepted into the world, didn't you?"

"To be friends with everyone just like in the stories..."

"But what happens when..."

"You finally break?"

-Beta, P2

"You just wanted to be loved, finally and forever..."

"But they never would have stayed with you otherwise."

"I mean it's not really your fault..."

"It's theirs."

-Scientist

"Kind of a strange name for a prodigy, wouldn't you say?"

"But the guilt you feel is pretty immense..."

"This is all your fault..."

"And it always has been."

-Gamma, P3

"Why do you always pretend to be the villain?"

"You try so very hard to be unlikable and yet..."

"Hahahaha..."

"When will you finally succeed in making sure everyone despises you?"

-Delta, P4

"It must be really sad all alone like that..."

"You want to forget, you really do but..."

"Well, you just know more than you ever should..."

"Maybe like the fact you're playing on a ___ system or something?"

"Haha...just kidding."

-Emil

"With a smile of gold to hide a darkened heart..."

"Doesn't it feel like it's in your nature?"

"First Impressions are everything."

-Thella

"What a noble person to tarnish."

"But then again, it's just as they say..."

"First impressions aren't everything."

-Ryan

Eris: Why would you ever want to be him?

Eris: How disgusting.

-Milo

Eris: That's your perfect creation.

Eris: Let's not tarnish him just yet, alright?

-Desmond

Eris: Why would you want a name like that?

Eris: He's simply too meddlesome for his own good.

-Seph

Eris: Oh dear, that won't work out at all...

Eris: He's only interested in monsters after all...

Eris: And not the kind that you are.

-Valli

Eris: She's a bit too much of a chatterbox, isn't she?

Eris: That's not really your style though...

-Holly

Eris: It's a bad idea.

Eris: She will have your head otherwise.

-Y/N

"What a dull an unremarkable name."

"That doesn't suit you at all."

-Bussy, Fart, Butt

"Hahaha!"

"Very clever!"

"Now watch this!"

game closes

-Dick, pussy, bitch, boobs

"Ah, a prankster, are we?"

"That's pretty funny, I have to say."

"But oh well."

game closes

-Espoir

"My, hello there. It's you. And everyone else."

"You know I heard that using a certain Ashy name might give different results."

"But that's just a simple rumor..."

"Who knows if it's true."

-Ally

"Oh? Ally? How curious."

"It's such an Amiiable name..."

"It's unfortunate you won't live up to it."

-Tsu, Tsumachi

"Oh? It's you."

"Sorry...there's not really any white hair boys in this game..."

"Haha...hope you're not too disappointed."

-Reiynm

"Oho. It's you."

"Such pretty drawings you make."

"I adore them so."

"I wonder just how pretty the thumbnail would be..."

"Haha...it's nothing. Let's continue."

-Lionel

"Ah, so I'm not the only one who is watching."

"I've been watching you for a while."

"So I hope you enjoy."

"Alright?"

-Cherry

"The one and only."

"Don't worry, I'm sure you'll end up in the attic at some point."

-Mari

"You know, I have something special for you."

"Deep inside of the code..."

"Let's check it out, shall we?"

-Veronica, Jason Dean, Heather

"A song hums in your brain."

"I was meant to be yours..."

"We were meant to be one..."

"Don't give up on me now..."

"Finish what we become..."

"How fitting."

-Strade

"Oh, it's you."

"Well, isn't that something..."

"You'll fit right in!"

-Vance

"Don't you wish you were held more?"

"Don't you wish that someone could hug you...?"

"Even if it drove them insane?"

"So desperately you will crawl to make someone love you..."

-Virgil

"Child of the stars. Child of the galaxies."

"You take on many forms, many shapes..."

"Stay with me, you tell them."

"Force them to stay if you can."

"They have no choice."

-Mychael

"Was it hard living in the forest alone?"

"Some terrifying being that wanted to be loved..."

"Well, don't worry. You'll be loved soon enough."

"By force or by..."

"Suggestion."

-Nick

"...You look awfully hungry."

"Should you get something to eat?"

"An arm or a leg...perhaps?"

-Momo

"A peach grown with a small child that comes out."

"A demon ritual made to get the love of your dreams."

"What will be the ending for this tale?"

-Toma

"A older figure to some, or a cage for others."

"You will be taken whether you like it or not."

"It's a promise."

-Cro

"It's weird... I feel like I remember you..."

"Somewhere in a train going down the line."

"You didn't let me leave."

"Did you?"

-Catsket, Dorian, Aeron

"...A god?"

"...No, the devil..."

"Bloodless Art, perhaps..."

"Remake him into your own."

-Cassanova

"Let's try not to get our hands too dirty."

"We can't eat him up just yet."

-Theo, Riese

"Oh my, you should be careful where you tread."

"I've heard vampires like to come about around here."

"Just be careful when you walk around baring your teeth."

-Ezra

"My, I've heard that you have experience..."

"Let's put that to good use."

"Let's hope it ends up well."

-Krow

"An omen of something to come."

"Be careful of what misfortune you bring."

-Fone

"Don't worry, I can hear you."

"You will be found soon."

"I promise."

-Jack

"A ghost of that who comforts."

"At least, that's what it seems

-Alan

"A song hums in your brain."

"Do you know the Hatchet Man?"

"The Hatchet man, the Hatchet man..."

"Do you know the Hatchet Man?"

"Who lives within the woods...."

"How fitting."

-Louie, Mica, Allar, Josh

"My what a colorful name."

"So pretty and yet unexpected."

"Well now, Valentine."

"Try not to eat his heart out."

-Ren, Redacted

"There's no need for you to try to be someone else."

"You will make them accept you and love you."

"He doesn't have a choice.

-Tenebris, Keith

"Of flowers and monsters."

Keith:

"Such a pretty person...and for what?"

"Being too jealous isn't a good look for anyone."

"Tenebris:

"Ah, be careful that your rage doesn't break them."

"It's unfortunate to destroy something before they're even made."

-Aster

"An angel. Someone who lives for you."

"Well, that might have been what you were suppose to be."

"But now it's time to find someone else to be able to fufill that role, hm?"

-Leumin

"It's raining, it's pouring~"

"Milo is snoring~"

"Hahaha..."

"Let's see if he'll enjoy this rainy weather we'll be putting on then..."

-Koolie

"Ha. Are you some sort of dog?"

"Ah, that's kind of funny..."

"Hopefully this doesn't turn out to be as tasteless as milk."

-Zecharias

"Just as memory serves right?"

"Sometimes you can't find your perfect muse..."

"You have to make them."

-Sal

"The evil white shark of the waters..."

"You just wanted to be loved right?"

"Well..."

"Don't we all?"

-Sol

"A name like the sun..."

"Or so they say."

"When you're simply the kid in the back..."

"Would anyone even notice?"

-Eli

"You were made to be loved, weren't you?"

"Sometimes though, you have to make sure you follow your directive."

"And you just have to do it yourself."

-Zachary, Simon, Seth

"This world isn't really that colorful..."

"At least thats what you think."

"Don't look at it through some colored gaze then, alright?"

-Bo, Dachabo

"You look like such an innocent puppy."

"But it's wrong isn't it?"

"You're more like a wolf who lusts for more."

-Liu

"Watch carefully through that door of yours."

"Your eyes darting about."

"You had always watched him from afar."

-Ashton

"Ah, did you jump from another game or something?"

"Don't forget your garden sheers."

"Maybe you might need them."

-Harper

"Ah, are you taking a break from camp?"

"Well hopefully, you find someone for you..."

"And try not to murder anyone, okay?"

-Morgan

"Hm? Are you a librarian or something?"

"Ah, sounds like a quiet job."

"Well, you can hear a lot of secrets, I'm sure."

-Riker

"Ah, so many different endings, so many different faces."

"Keep it together for your love, okay?"

"You're going to need him."

-Griffin

"Ah, like the bird, huh?"

"Did you guys meet on IndyCent or something?"

"Haha, I jest."

-Dameon, Stalker

"What a fluffy figure you have..."

"You must be good at following the things you like, don't you?"

"Well, let's track him down then..."

"Our Perfect Love"

-Nial

"A parasite bringing someone to death..."

"A blue enigma with a killing blow..."

"Let's hope you can keep him alive..."

"He's going to need it."

-Z

"Ah, a real demonic character, huh?"

"Have you taken interest in someone?"

"Let's keep them closer to you..."

"So they can never leave."

-Gold

"Ah? What a peculiar name."

"You wouldn't perhaps have someone who is in a coma, right?"

"Ahaha. It's just a jest."

-Klein

"How long did it take you to finally get what you pleased?"

"Behind that plastic cover..."

"You'll finally break free."

-Friend

"Ah, what a friendly name you have."

"Despite all that, it's quite ironic."

"After all, being friends with you is rather...unfortunate, isn't it?"

-Adam

"Ah, you have experience hurting others, don't you?"

"Says the one above..."

"I'm sure you will get what you deserve."

-Doc, Dre

"Do you like vengeance?"

"You probably do, don't you?"

"Then please..."

"Enjoy to your heart's content."

-Valk

"May you be watched and possessed..."

"Just as you deserve..."

"I hope it's to your liking."

-Melencholy

"Ah, I remember you. You do your best, don't you?"

"Carried us when we all needed it..."

"Please, let's have fun..."

"Creating our very own perfect love."

-Sox

"A perfect househusband or a perfect wife..."

"Maybe both, maybe neither..."

"Well, I'm sure that this will end with someone being taken care of."

"Whether you'd want it or not."

-Calem

"As I've heard, you really are something."

"You love it when someone watches you from above."

"Like a cat, ready to pounce."

-Meru

"The one of the stars, the one of love."

"I've heard them say you're quite the artist."

"Let's make him into a piece of art, shall we?"

-Techno

"Oh? What a curious name..."

"Like a small, little hamster..."

"Well, they do say that if someone dies next to a hamster..."

"They use their face as bedding."

"That's a fun fact, huh?"

-Madelyn

"I did promise something for you, didn't I?"

"Someone or something that's quite cute or cuddly..."

shows image of a cat

"Someone like this then, hm?"

"Haha. I did promise."

-Jablue

"Can you hear him hiding in the walls?"

"Watching...waiting..."

"There's always someone out there, you know..."

"Begging for your love."

-Bambi

"A deer in the headlights, watching so carefully."

"Will you enjoy the corruption that has been brought?"

"It's more fun when they fall by your hand, you know?"

-Song

"A monster in the making is just as fun..."

"Watch as he twists and turns into his new form..."

"Watch as he hatches into something that's just for you..."

-Flaine

"Ah, welcome back, boss!"

"The cheeriest of all, the one who speaks loudly..."

"May we corrupt the one we love the most..."

"Don't forget to finish your comic..."

-Quiet, Quietaxis

"Did I forget about you?"

"You seem familiar..."

"Like you'd be friends with a cute pink character."

image of kirby

"Kind of like that? I suppose?"

"Haha, that's cute."

-Stranger

"Surprising..."

"I didn't think you'd be here."

"The god of death themselves."

-Manly, Manlybadasshero

"Ah, so it's you. And everyone else."

"I've been wondering if you would pick this up."

"So hopefully you enjoy."

"It would be a shame if you didn't."

whew that's a lot lol

I'd separate the nickname one since there is a lot

[nattinatalia]

Urban Wyatt x Reader : EASTER BUNNY

“Why do I have to dress up as the bunny?”

“Our kids will wonder why we’re not with them.” Urban shrugs.

“That’s a bullshit ass excuse and you know it.”

“Hey” Jack warns walking into the guest bedroom “no cussing on Easter Sunday.”

They all share a look and laugh.

“But seriously why me and not Clay or Cope?”

“Because Clay and Cope got voted favorite uncles.” Jack shrugs.

“Well can you and your wife hurry up and get pregnant again so I can corrupt the new spawn and be voted favorite uncle?.”

“Dude just shut up and get into the suit, they’re about ready with hiding the eggs.” Urban tells him.

“Fine, fine, you two owe me big time.”

•••••••••••••••

“Niños les tenemos una sorpresa.” You yell out.

It was Easter Sunday and you had told Urban you wanted to have a little get together with the family before you had to rehearse for Coachella.

Everyone was in your new backyard, doing all kinds of Easter activities. The kids were enjoying themselves, and the grandparents were taking pictures of every little thing the kids would do.

“What is is mommy?” Cassie comes running to you, Ezequiel and Mia following behind her.

“Daddy and Nino were able to catch the Easter bunny.” You tell your daughter.

Her eyes go wide with excitement and shock, she starts jumping. “Where is it mommy?”

“Turn around and see.”

Cassie, Mia and Ezequiel turn around quickly and see the Bunny making its way to the backyard.

The bunny is waving hello, jumping around the kids and hugging them all.

“Why this bunny funny looking mama?” Ezequiel asks his mom.

You and her share a look. “Ezequiel be nice mijo.” Nat tells him.

“Hmm.” He’s staring at the bunny. “Mr bunny, do you like carrots like me?”

The Bunny shakes his head no.

Ezequiel gasps. “He not real.” He kicks the bunny and the bunny yells out.

“Oww fuck.”

All three kids gasp.

“BUNNY TALKS?”

“IS NOT REAL.”

“UNCLE DRUSKI KILLED THE BUNNY.”

“No.” Druski takes off the bunny head.

“I ATE HIM.” He starts chasing after the kids and they all yell.

Clay trips Druski, which makes him fall to the ground and the kids laugh and start attacking him.

“Okay enough demons.” Dru yells out.

“What did you do to the bunny.” Ezequiel asks.

“Did you really eat him uncle Dru Dru?” Cassie asks after inspecting the head.

“No, he couldn’t make it. He has lots of kids to visit.”

“I guess you are a cool uncle.” Ez tells him shrugging.

“Yeah” Mia nods. “Even if I had to pay for your Disney ticket.”

You all laugh and continue to spend your Sunday afternoon sharing laughs and new memories.

“We did good this year huh?” Urban asks, coming to stand besides you.

“We do good every year.” You tell him.

He wraps you up in his arms. “Yeah.”

You turn to look up at him knowing there was something in his mind. “I’m good, I promise, I'm just happy and blessed you decided to move back here and that I have you and Cassie closer again.”

“We made a promise, she comes first no matter what, she deserves to have us both near at all times.”

Just then you feel little arms wrapped around your knees, you face down and see Cassie is hugging both you and Urban.

Urban lifts her up, kisses her head, and pulls you in closer to them.

“Best Easter Day ever.” She says tiredly hugging the both of you.

Your divorce might have not been something you saw coming.

To be completely honest, you were scared that you’d lose your best friend.

But the funny thing is, it actually brought you two closer.

Everything you do is for your daughter.

You just hope that the peaceful co-parenting stays like this forever.

For every Easter and holiday to come.

••••••••••

TAG LIST

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[mapsofmystery]

on one hand i think maps should be the next robin - she is so fun and peppy, has great rapport w batman, and takes us full circle to having a robin that acts as the "light" for the batman mythos. dick quit because he was too emotionally scarred but not jaded or pessimistic enough to ever want the batman mantle. jason, tim, and damian are all troubled and full of tragedy. so maps would be able to fulfill the needs of what robin represents for both batman and the residents of gotham. i don't imagine her beyond gotham (but who knows for sure ?) and she already has amazing problem solving and detective skills plus her maps!!!

on the other hand, i don't see anyone in the batfam being supportive of this. all of the robins, batgirls, and others know what the position entails and i can't imagine any of them seeing this as a good thing for maps.

i think about how bruce wayne doesn't see himself as bruce wayne, in his mind, he refers to himself as batman... that is his identity and "bruce" is just who he pretends to be. the reason why he has this often times tense relationship with his family has a lot to do with how controlling he is. bruce is so mentally stuck that, sure, he finds kids that he thinks he can give a family too and they become his sidekicks and learn about justice and how to be hero by his side, but they age and they continue to grow. they become their own persons and grow/evolve past this very stagnant idea of robin. and there's also the matter of the previous attempts of writing batman beyond into the batman comics universes (which i am not a fan of personally). the bruce in that future is so lonely and bleak because he has pushed everyone away. everyone that he was close to changed, and all of his protèges developed while he stayed the same. he doesn't really allow himself to even be paternal or a bit soft until terry, and imo that's partly to do w the fact that terry was not raised by him in his formative years, terry already had a voice and opinions.

like i'm sure with maps' enthusiasm and determination, if she were to become robin, it would like "oh you have no choice because i'm going to continue to dress up and get in trouble" but knowing a version of the future and the strained relationships bruce creates because of his own issues... i'm just like... stay away from her! and it may have just been an easter egg, but seeing a screencap of that maps robin suit in wonder woman future state. WITH her little flower clip that she wears as a 14 year old... like oh no... if she is batman's next robin she is literally going to experience irreparable tragedy as robin... oh no... there's too much emotionally devastating potential when you have a really positive enthusiastic non-fighter i fear.... 🥹 do you get me??? like i want her to be the next robin,,... but at the same time... dc writers stay away from her!!! let her stay silly or give us more gotham academy!! 🤧

[miraevanlynch]

✨CROWLEY'S RANK THEORY BEFORE FALLING ✨

Maybe Crowley is a Seraphim because there are 4 Seraphims flying around the god, but only 2 have been identified as Metatron and Seraphiel, Lucifer aka Samael is said to be the 3rd, and the 4th is still a mystery.

But I think Crowley is not Seraph because he doesn't like to work in the choir of heaven, flies around the god all day and sang : "Holy holy holy", is terribly boring, but in the season 2 we see him creating the universe, he has a lot of knowledge, so in my opinion he is Ophanim responsible for enlightening and manifesting God's creative power (Creating the stars), giving mankind the knowledge of God ( you know, Crowley feeding Adam and Eve with the forbidden fruit ) and being entities of imagination and constant awareness of what is around them ( Crowley always asks questions ). Ophanim is associated with the image of a flaming wheel constantly moving and changing shape (it suits Crowley so much) and what makes me support this Theory the most is that the Ophanim are said to have a special and intimate relationship with the Cherubim. The Good Omens Prime twitter account just dropped a little Easter Eggs in the short video at the beginning of episode 1 that Aziraphale used to be a Cherub since the universe wasn't created, so we can see why Crowley and Aziraphale got bundled together, that's my hypothesis.

I'm not sure, because after two days of struggling with the last 15 minutes of episode 6, the thing I wonder most is Crowley's angel rank. So I googled for documents and came up with this theory, actually at first I thought Crowley was the Vitures (the ones who monitor the stars and the universe) But this rank is lower than Domination, so I think Ophanim is the most reasonable, and Ophanim is a lower rank than Cherubim (which explains why Aziraphale knew the universe would be destroyed after 6000 years and the pre-Fall Crowley don't ), but also strong and powerful enough to open the Gabriel's information file, and more importantly why Metatron and Crowley doesn't seem to like each other (imagine how stress a CEO's chief secretary would be when the Director of Designer kept asking him questions about the Project he worked on, then ask you to submit a recommendation to the general boss, raise hand to refute you in the project announcement meeting, while you are just the face of the boss and can't decide anything but implementation, while that Designer can do what he like and refute petitions all day long) Metatron must have been so bitter about Crowley, he didn't like that dandy devil, because he couldn't do anything to smite Crowley? ( angels of the same Rank all have equal strength and power, more or less hierarchical in being closer to God or not).

This is just a hypothesis that I came up with and drew from the details in the series and the Bible, so it's best to wait until SS3 to see how awesome the Pre Fall Crowley is, whether attached to Seraphim or Ophanim, Crowley still deserves the award for the coolest entity (simpest entity) in the universe 🔥😈

Thank you for reading !

[topweeklyupdate]

TØP Weekly Update #142: A Formidable Album (5/21/21)

So... how 'bout that album release week?

There's so much to cover; the release of nine new songs, the hype that's building for the World's Best Band to return to the stage, and (if we're able to come up for air) the massive speculation of what the future brings for our band.

I'm gonna get right into it, laying out my thoughts regarding this bold new album and covering all the most notable news from the week. I'll be sharing my (mostly) positive opinions about Scaled and Icy under the Read More line; I hope they're the start of a fun conversation with all of y'all who have stuck around through this last year.

Scaled and Icy Review

First, my general thoughts on the album: It's good! Really good. Do I think it's a no-skip like Vessel or a cohesive piece of art like Trench? Absolutely not! But it's also not the potential misfire that I worried that we might be getting when I first heard "Saturday" (more on that later); I think all of the songs are at least good, and some of them are downright great tracks that hold up with anything else that our band has ever released. It is also indisputably very different, but I think that generally works pretty well. Many of the songs evoke '60s rock or Britpop sounds and structures that you can tell Tyler is still trying to navigate, but I think he does a very solid job at adapting them to suit his strengths- namely his lyricism and knack for melody- rather than change to suit them. Unfortunately, this does result in a bit of square-peg-in-round-hole syndrome at times; most of the rap verses on the album feel like they're here just to fulfill an obligation to fans who would be mad if they weren't here, and most of the songs that use them are the weakest ones in the project.

"Good Day" plays a major role in getting the rest of the album to work as well as it does. Its gradual ramp-up, introducing the sound that will be used throughout the rest of the album. Its playfulness belies its message about how one can project a somewhat false optimism for oneself in the midst of tragedy: the type of dark stuff in a bright package that Tyler is so so good at. It's perhaps not an instant classic, but I am excited to see how it comes across when it's eventually used as a show-opener. 9/10

I've of course already discussed "Shy Away"; an anthemic, inimitably catchy track that I just wish had a bit more going on under the hood. Still going to be so good to hear thousands of voices scream "An 'I LOVE YOU' that isn't words!" someday. 9.5/10

"Choker" definitely took a little bit to grow on me. I think part of that was a bit of disappointment from over-inflated expectations and the environment I was in when I first heard it. With further listens, I fall more and more in love with the melody of the song... well, most of it. Like the rest of this album, the biggest weakness in the song is when Tyler tries to tick the box of having a rap verse; it just feels really out of place, unfinished, and almost amateurish, and it doesn't end the song on the note that it really should. Without it, it'd be one of my favorites on the album; with it, "Choker" is a solid 8.5/10.

Speaking of unfinished-sounding songs really hurt by their rap verse: "The Outside". There's a definite something to the vibe of the song, but that seemingly nonsensical verse is one of the two weakest parts of the entire project for me. The way the song meanders only adds to the feeling that there wasn't as much energy and attention paid to it compared to other parts of the project. It's pretty easily my least favorite track on Scaled and Icy, and the only one I might regularly skip. I've also seen plenty of people saying it's the best song on the album, so please tell me why I'm wrong! 6.5/10

"Saturday", as mentioned above, had me really nervous about this album. Like "Choker", it's grown on me a bit since I first heard it, in part because it fits better with the context of the rest of the album. However, this one really does feel undercooked lyrically and overreliant on the novelty of using a disco-inspired sound that seems to chase trends more than almost any other TØP track. The inclusion of that very sweet audio clip from Jenna boosts the song in some ways, but also adds to the disappointment in others; there are many other songs on this project that would be more worth surrendering time watching Friends. Thankfully, those come next. 7/10

"Never Take It" is fascinating. I never thought I'd hear a Rolling Stones-style song from Tyler Joseph featuring a gd guitar solo of all things, and it actually sounds pretty great. However, I also predict that this song will see some of the greatest critical scrutiny out of all the songs on the album. The lyrics seem to be Tyler's criticism of the media for playing up division in our society, but he's extremely vague when discussing which entities are spreading said division and ultimately recommends that people "educate yourself, but never too much". I'll be honest: maybe it's the fact that it sounds like something my dad would listen to, but it feels like this would get tons of play on Fox News. Since it makes specific reference to the events of last summer, it's hard not to feel like song is at least partially inspired by Tyler's brush with cancellation last year. Maybe I'm reading too deeply into it, but those reservations come from the song's lack of specificity, which is an issue of songwriting more than politics. They hold me back from truly loving a song that still manages to be one of the most exciting the band has ever put out. 8.5/10

"Mulberry Street" seems like the perfect realization of the entire album's intended tone. It is so pleasant, so lush while also simply produced, full of great lyrics, metaphors, and imagery. It really brings the whole project together, even if it's missing That One Line to really move this up to the top tier of the canon. 9.5/10

"Formidable" is the best song on the album and one of two songs I would truly rank in the top tier of the band's canon. Extremely pleasant and brimming with well-crafted lines to make your heart swoon. Jenna (and Rosie) is (are) a lucky gal(s). Or is it about Josh? Who's to say? 10/10

"Bounce Man" is just plain wild. I think Tyler's smuggling someone to Mexico to escape the feds? The playfulness of it all really covers up any frustration I might have with the clarity; it makes it clear that there's not really stakes here, just vibes. 8.5/10

"No Chances" sees the album take a turn that I'm sure the Reddit Clique is going to have an absolute field day with; it and "Redecorate" both sound quite different from the rest of the album and evoke enough elements of Trench to make me think that's it's actually possible that all this 'SAI is Propaganda' stuff might actually have something to it... until I actually pick apart the lyrics, then I'm even more confused. The song has some of the best rapping on the album, though that's not saying much (the feng shui line is a groaner right out the gate) and the gentle pre-chorus is really pleasant. I still haven't made up my mind on whether the chorus is effective or just plain goofy. This one might get worse or better on repeat listens, impossible to say for now. 7.5/10

"Redecorate" rounds out the album by opening with a Clancy quote (Tyler, you bastard), firmly setting this as a coda to Trench more than the album we just listened to. The rest of the song is really storytelling, with Tyler describing a bunch of people who are struggling deeply. The idea of "redecorating" here stands for how they are faced with the option to clean and resort their own spaces and lives or leave that to their loved ones to do after they're gone. By the time it gets to the album's name drop, you begin to wonder how much of this is potential autobiographical of the last year. It's moving stuff, a callback to some of the great strengths of the band's discography. 10/10

If I average those scores all up, this project ranks below almost every album among the Pilots discography on my rating scale, very narrowly edging out Self-Titled. That's still a very solid 8.6. Scaled and Icy is a very good album on first listen. We'll see how I feel about it after having a little more time to sit with it, but I've rambled enough: let's move through the rest of the week's news.

Other News

Of course, there was a lot else going on this week! To accompany the release of "Saturday", Zane Lowe over at Apple Music dropped an interview with Tyler. As usual, Zane did a pretty solid job of getting to the heart of the craft and the creation process. However, Tyler also wound up skirting a lot of the questions to just talk more about how much he loves being a dad, which makes me happy; if the cost of getting a little less attention and mental energy devoted to the music is that little girl getting all of his attention, that's honestly preferable for me.

The album rollout is not even close to over. Later today, the concert will be streamed live. It's our first real performance that we've gotten from the band since 2019, but the previews that we've seen have completely exceeded any of my expectations, and really anything that we've seen from the band. It appears that they've transformed the entire arena (which I think is the ol' Schott at Ohio State) into a whole TØP world, with different sets laden with Easter eggs and a cast of backup dancers. If the website can hold up to the traffic (and I acknowledge that might be a big ask), this could really live up to Tyler's promise of this being the best livestreamed concert ever.

Oh, and this guy dyed his hair pink.

What a time to be a fan. Catch you all tomorrow.

Power to the local dreamer.

|-/

[youngbugandtonystank]

Hello! I'm a big fan of your analytical eloquence! :) I was wondering if you knew about certain terminology in fiction. Like, say, I wanted to know if there's a word for a type of adulation towards women, especially POC women, that acts as its own token bias. I see this in fandom so much now, where writers make female characters out to be "perfect," but strangely they have no depth to them and headcanons mount to create an illusion of an almost moral superiority; it's more overt for POC cases.

This is another form of idealized racial harmony, if people are not interested in creating depth or an arc for black/POC characters, then they’re just used as the commercially safe and politically correct accessory. Some characters are there to look cute but it’s harmful to think of them as only that. 

That blind adulation you’re talking about is harmful because they make those characters perfect and flawless and take away any possibility to give them a characterization on their own. Women in movies can’t be just there to ‘keep the male character in order’ or to appear one time in a fight and do a ‘badass’ move and that’s it. They need a story and deserve one as well. Also, stop treating them as the ‘love interest’ only, you know the comics have a vast storyline for each character, then why not give it to them? 

Representation is not ‘I’m standing here with the white guys. I made it’. No. If the black/POC character is applauded for doing what a regular white extra could be doing then that’s not representation. They deserve the same storyline and importance you would give your constant white lead. People shouldn’t have to make others realize this, they should just give them the same treatment.

And I agree with you, the fandom sometimes makes this mistake as well. They write certain female characters as perfect because 1. they don’t have any other depiction of them because the canon material didn’t provide it and 2. they don’t want to give them flaws because that’s going to appear as not ‘feminist’ enough for some readers, and they don’t want to get called out. Flaws are part of what makes a character if you don’t want to add that to the mix regarding your female characters is probably because you just don’t want to bother with them. 

Many people ask me why I don’t ship spideychelle and the reason behind this is Michelle’s character. This girl has no characterization or a storyline of her own, and the little things we know about her are deleted scenes or extra easter eggs you have to research online to find them. I hate this because she’s treated as Peter’s special add-on cuteness subplot. I get she’s not a serious love interest, she’s the typical high school sweetheart, but think about this, she and Laura Harrier’s characters are the first black female love interests/leads in a spider-man movie, how are you not angry that she’s only there to act cute and say a few sarcastic one-liners? Don’t you want her to be Candice Patton’s Iris West? A black lead with an actual representation by speech, narrative, action, and gesture:

Candice Patton: "A lot of it has to do with the fact that we weren't represented. You're watching television shows, and the lead female — the lead desirable woman — is always blond-haired and blue-eyed. That's who the hero is wanting to be with. But hopefully with shows like The Flash, where I get to play a character that is the lead female and the hero's love interest, who is a hero in her own right, you begin to believe that that's beautiful."

She’s not just the ‘omg look at this black character getting their shine moment’ one time or the ‘I’m a feminist with this badass wisecrack joke’. She’s ‘I got my storyline, my personality, my foundation as an essential character and you get to know me as well as the others’. I get that shipping is cute and fun, but don’t do more harm by just standing there and letting this happen. Stop treating them as your ‘one-off’ character and listening to the crowd when it comes to this.

They can develop Happy, Betty, a random extra student, and even PETER’S TEACHER and DELMAR but Michelle is reduced to the ‘racial compensation look-cute awkward high-school romance’? How is no one mad about this? It can’t be only me. 

The reason I’m mad because Laura was kicked out is not that I want her with Peter, is because Laura was actually fighting to get her character to have a more substantial role and nobody cared about that. 

Laura Harrier: "I hope Liz gets powers, because that's what happens in the comics, she’s not there for the boy, there are a million things that are her focus: school, her career, college applications, all these things, but definitely not the boy. She’s not there just to look pretty and hang out with Peter."

Let me give you an example, while I believe this is a scene anyone can enjoy, I think the fact that in 12 years this is the first time we’re seeing this, tells a lot:

Cool scene? Yes, of course. But let me ask you something, have you ever seen Pepper in that suit before in those 11 years she’s been there with Tony? Ever seen this before?

She’s completely capable, why wait until you get called out to do this stuff? 

Why is this movie only appearing now, in 2020, when Black Widow has been an avenger for years?

They have ignored certain female characters’ development for years and that scene is not enough to compensate that. The moral superiority shouldn’t have to be showcased in exaggerated proportions because the storyline should’ve said that to you on its own. Are you going to say Tony is a genius only because he said a sarcastic smartass line one time? No, of course not, you say it because the canon material has shown you that he’s capable. He has scenes and profundity to sustain that fact. 

Are you going to say Thor is strong af because he swung the hammer once and killed the bad guy with it? No. You know it because his story has connected events that led him to have that determination and resolve. An illusion of what a character could be is not enough to represent. Black/POC characters are not there fill on the ‘racial rendition’ blank. If they have to scale a lot higher than other characters or be presented as the supplementary stereotype-enforcing woke point, then they’re just accessories to your movie. 

So, yeah. I agree with you. I get sometimes is fine because some things are just fanfiction, you can warp the characters as much as you like, but you can’t deny the MCU has a major problem with this.

[sugarcookiesandsins]

Hey. So I don't meant to come off as rude or offense, but I'm really curious. I know you're a new blog and that you're friends with Kura, but I feel like you lost a lot of originality you could've had. You basically try to mirror everything she does, which I understand it's also because you admire her and want to be like her, but you can't BE her ... Like for example,,, you use "Jae talks" when it used to be "Jae speaks" lol and now you want amm asks when that's all she's been doing. (1)

This is going to be a long answer, but I feel it prudent to respond to this ask in particular because of the evidence this anon has brought against me in regards to my friendship with Kura ( @re-sugance ). She is free to make of these accusations what she will and whether or not she continues to be friends with me is up to her discretion and judgement. Each point that this anon has brought forward will be quoted and addressed. 

1. “…lost a lot of originality that you could’ve had…basically try to mirror every thing she does…”

    I feel that in no way I have lost any originality. I am very proud of my own ideas for my stories as well as the work I have put into making those ideas into reality through each chapter. Apart from Nymphet Garden, all my stories are independent works that are in no way related to Kura or her ideas for her own stories. As for trying to mirror everything she does, there is no way I could even if I wanted to. Like Kura, every writer on Tumblr is unique in their own way with their own quirks and interpretations for even the most common au’s that may exist.

    True, the mafia!au idea for Charmed was not mine, but then again everyone who writes and reads that genre knows that. What is mine, is my application of the idea to the boys. Their profiles, painstakingly constructed so readers could relate more to the story and to the OC, because isn’t that the goal of any ‘x reader’ or ‘reader-insert’ stories? For the reader to feel like they are that main character. Those are my ideas. So please, if you still believe that I am mirroring her, tell me where. 

2. “…because you admire her and want to be like her, but you can’t be her…”

     I will not deny that I admire Kura; she is an amazing writer with a wonderful gift. Nor will I deny, that I have imagined being able to write like that. All of her readers will agree with me that she had a nuance about her writing that blurs the line between reality and fantasy, making the stories more real to our minds than they should be. And because I understand the art in her works, I also understand that I will never be able to be her.

     I have my own writing style that differs from hers by a mile, but I am not disappointed in it. It is a style that I have created over these last 10+ years that I have been in creative writing. I have developed it through what I have read and through my influences in literature, and especially through my own personality that shows through my voice. I have my own merits in my writing, and if I want to rise in the ranks of the tumblr writing group, I will be doing it with assurance in my uniqueness and not the filched merits of others who have already achieved success. 

3. “…you use ‘Jae talks” when it used to be ‘Jae speaks’ …”

If you really looked through all the tags on my old account, you would have noticed that I alternated between the two, half out of forgetfulness for which I had used before and half out of indecisiveness. When I deleted my original blog, and recreated my second one, I decided on which one sounded better when said aloud. You have no idea how many times I felt like a maniac alternating between both, before I decided that talks sounds better than speaks. Even phonetically the ‘ae’ from Jae and ‘a’ talks have a similar vocal shape when I say both words, making them sound better suited than the transition from ‘ae’ to ‘ea’ if I say Jae speaks. 

4. “…now you want amm asks when that’s all she’s been doing…”

    Yes, her and many other authors. If you would like I can provide you with a list of authors that participate in the ‘ask my muse’ and ‘ask my character’ types of asks as they are very helpful. Personally, I saw them more as a way for me to be forced into thinking more about my characters and their backstories, further than what I have to come up with for the story. They also provide authors with the opportunity to get ideas about possible spin-off chapters or one-shots to create.

    As an author, you have read the story and chapter many times, the repetitiveness sometimes causing us to miss the smallest of details. These details are the wonderful little easter eggs that our readers discover and tell us about. This is why I started opening my inbox to ‘ask my muse’ and ‘ask my character’. 

5. “…you already have an advantage given you are collaborating with her and she has a follower base…”

    This is the most disgusting accusation I have heard. What ‘advantage’ do you think I am trying to gain? What you are insinuating here is that I am using Kura, someone who I personally call a friend, to help boost my own popularity on tumblr. I find this downright disgusting and a direct attack on my character and morals. Yes. I am collaborating her, but you best believe that I am putting my own share of work into this collaboration. I have in no way specially requested her to promote me on her website and the only promotion I have ever gotten from her is her tagging me in our collaboration and by reblogging a one-shot I co wrote with another writer. That to is on her recommendation blog and not her main one. I believe that if people follow me it is because they have read my works and enjoyed them. If you feel like I am using her, please ask her yourself. She is very strong individual who I believe is able to cut people out of her life who she feels are toxic. 

6. “Even your writing style has changed.”

     The beauty of being a writer is the ability to experiment with your writing style. Here I assume you mean that my writing style had changed in an attempt to match hers. Subconscious interference is not something to be taken lightly, and if you find evidence that my writing has changed to match hers, I am also sure that you will find evidence of stylistic qualities that will match Joseph Konrad and Jane Austen as well. As I have mentioned above, I am influenced by what I read. I read Kura’s works with just as much voracity as the works of greats. In light of that, I find it no issue that my writing style had changed; it is changing to improve and to learn. 

7. “….I don’t mean to come off as rude or offensive.” ; “Sorry if this comes off as mean but I’m just curious if you’ve noticed that you’re doing the those things as we do.” 

     I think that the first thing is your attempts at placating me regarding the crude accusations you have made regarding my intellectual property and my character. Do not try to justify your accusation of me using a friend to further my own aims or that I am losing my “originality”. If you are accusing me of such, I believe that you should own up to it. And the first step, is coming off of anonymous and facing me as yourself. Additionally, I wonder who this ‘we’ is that you speak of. This means that there is a group of you that share these ideas. I invite you all to come forward, and not just to me, to Kura as well. I believe she also has the right to see these accusations you are making as it involves her, does it not?

I have addressed every point you have brought forward regarding my ‘mirroring’ of Kura’s blog and writing. This will be the last time I will address such claims as they are demoralizing and with the intent of hurting me. I have confidence in my own writing and wonderful friends who have faith my me and my character; this is all I need.