#eg wildcard

[burdigel]

So one of the most lore-indepth wildcards of Wild Life would be the superpowers that relates past seasons of the Life Series and acknowledges other series (eg. Hermitcraft and Evo) and their personal lore to attribute to each participant's power.

Starting alphabetically,

Bdubs power is essentially all related to time and his ability to manipulate the day cycle expentially. With the clock being his main motif across all Life Series, the ability to slow and speed time according to his will is easily solvable but with the inclusion of the Hermitcraft and Empires crossover event, his ability to speed time according to his sleep schedule becomes another layer deep. Besides the clock being a main symbol for Bdubs, the concept of sleep is another that has essentially been from the beginning of Hermitcraft. Always carrying a bed and sleeping whenever. The Empires crossover Bdubs was framed as a god of sorts of the Sun. Always bright and always there when the Sun remained as its brightest.

Bigb can summon creaking. He creaking. He is like a king or dimplomant to the players who invade their home and they view him as their kin so he has the responsibility and power to summon them.

Ethoslab based of Kakashi from Naruto is by definition a ninja. An escapee or fugitive at best. So with his ability to jump higher boosted by wind charges can be explained by his connection to the shonen series and the inclusion of the mace could be chalked up to typically stories of protagonists gaining resources or inventory to defeat the "Big Bad" or achieve some sort of goal that is to win the Life Series.

GeminiTay or GeminiSlay named by others intimidated by her, has slayed each participant brutally in the Life Series and on Hermitcraft rewarding her the reputation from her immense PvP skills. So with her power of astral projection, it acts retribution for the slayed to talk and apologise or instigate to those dead for her or others benefit.

GoodTimeWithScar is nortorious for being not PG friendly so the inclusion of one of his powers been the ability to ride people, it's self explanatory. Yet as Scar is commonly associated with and as a vex, his other powers of extreme knockback and thorns can be explained by the hostile and aggressivness of the mob.

Grian as essentially the grandmaster or orchestrator of the Life Series would have access to all the powers and mimic but not fully copy the others' powers. Yet because of his power chained by an omnipresent force, he's unable to fully copy the powers but imitate them for only short periods of time.

ImpulseSV and his teleportation powers could derive from his cyber-theme aesthetic for his Hermitcraft Season X base. With most series of fictions based around cyberpunk civilisations, technologies like teleporation and other advanced transportational devices are commonly utilsed. Resulting in Impulse's power of teleportation and the ability to swap the position of another with himself.

Martyn power is boosted hearing cause he's a Listener.

So Lizzie or LDShadowLady's inflicts blindless or a shadow upon the surrounding people in her radius and resulting her in temporary invisibility and blindess to others around her. But from her endless descent into the void in Secret Life, arises Lizzie with trails of the void clinging to grasp the light of the overworld. Causing the void remnants to spread to others and infect them with blindness in all for the hope to spread towards the light from the cold world of the End.

With the ability to fly, PearlescentMoon carries aesthetics relating to Greek mythology in both her powers and external design choices. As one of the Postmasters of Hermitcraft, Pearl is essentially the builder and additional redstone help of the trio for the postoffice and other aesthetic designs. Hermes the herald or messenger of the Olympus gods delievers messages to other celestial dieties and mortals similar to Pearl's jobs as a Postmaster. Other than the similar professions, both Pearl and Hermes wear a petasos which is essentially a wide-brimmed hat that is commoly adorned for shade and for Hermes, additional wings to the sides of the hat. Symbolising their shared ability to fly quickly and efficiently for a purpose.

As RentheDog is commonly interpreted as a dog-hybrid of sorts by the Hermitcraft and Life Series community, his ability to splice and copy the DNA of others to match their appearance could be an aftermath or positive side-effect from his hybrid mutation.

Similar to Ren, Scott has the capability to transform into any mob in sight and similar to Limited Life where he was depicted as a siren as part of the Mean Gills. His ability to shape-shift into any mob regardless if it's passive or aggressive could be similar to his mutliple origins from New Life SMP and Origin SMP and the reflect the changing nature of his powers.

So Joel with essentially triple jump could be hinting his slimely origins of his Shrek skin in the swamp. Where the swamp generally spawns slimes at a higher rate than other slime chunks and slime blocks harvested from the slimes can be used as jump boosts. Resulting in the triple jump.

After just breaking the Canary Curse two seasons ago, SolidarityGaming or Jimmy has the power to turn fully invisible until someone or something damages him. Ever since his debut to the Watchers back in Evo, Jimmy has been under constant surveillance by the Watchers as an object of their amusement. Always failing to reach even the finale and fumbling to keep alive. Yet when he broke the curse and relayed it too another, he was discarded. Seen invisible to the Watchers as he had become an object of boredom by reaching his resolution. So that's where his invisibility comes from.

Tango with his cowardly approach to things, has constantly ran away from situations but with this power, it supercharges his speed allowing him to become part of the fight and conflict instead of running away. And with his ability to frost-walk on ice, it could recall his Season 9's skin back when he was the Dungeon Master in Decked Out II and became an icy persona.

ZombieCleo and resurect dead people as she's a reanimated zombie.

----

part 32

im tired

[aventurineswife]

AU where HSR characters are celebrities w unique styles / actors and people love them sm they cosplay as them. Slides in reader in a little expo selling merch of them and they bump into each other like ?!?! except except...reader doesn't recognize them at all bcs they think it's just another cosplayer!! (Any charac, but pls w dr ratio & aven? 🙏)

Oh, this idea is golden. Imagine Dr. Ratio and Aventurine as insanely famous celebrities—Ratio probably being a revered intellectual with a cult following (think a mix of philosopher and fashion icon), while Aventurine is this enigmatic, scandalous businessman-turned-star with a reputation for being both a genius and a wildcard.

Now, picture the expo. The reader is there, just minding their business, selling fan merch—maybe cute enamel pins of Dr. Ratio’s signature owl-themed accessories or Aventurine’s flashy gambler aesthetic. And then, boom. They bump into these two, but instead of freaking out, they just assume they’re dedicated cosplayers.

Dr. Ratio would be absolutely offended but also fascinated. He’d scoff, adjust his laurel, and be like, “You have quite the nerve, not recognizing the most brilliant mind of this generation.” Meanwhile, Aventurine? Oh, he’d love it. He’d lean in with that ever-present smirk, maybe toy with his glasses, and play along just to see how far it goes.

"A cosplayer? My, my, you wound me. Should I take it as a compliment that people look this good dressed as me?"

Reader, completely unfazed: “Yeah, you really nailed the smug aura. Did you make that choker yourself, or did you buy it from the official merch store?”

Ratio is trying so hard to correct them, but Aventurine keeps egging it on, throwing in outrageous claims (“Oh, my dear colleague here? He spent weeks crafting that headpiece by hand.”). Eventually, they have to reveal themselves, and the moment of realization would be priceless.

I can totally see Aventurine chuckling while signing one of their merch pieces with a dramatic flourish, “Consider this the most valuable thing at your stall now.”

And Ratio? He’d just shake his head in exasperation but still begrudgingly sign something before walking off with a huff.

Iconic.

[lintwizardly]

Ok what’re everyone’s predictions for future wildcards? Here's mine:

Everyone turns into mobs (it’s in the name. They’ve gotta.)

Boogeyman!!!!!

Boogeyman but with a bounty mechanic where they have to kill a specific person

People swapping places/some kind of random teleportation gimmick

Everyone burns in the sun

Something something parkour civilization

Natural disasters

Reversed/altered gravity

Sprites for items are randomized (looks like a diamond, is a stick) or block drops (diamond ore drops a stick) are randomized

Horde of mobs, possibly waves of mobs that have to be cleared with a lull in between

Scavenger hunt. If a player doesn't have the appropriate item in their inventory before a time limit elapses, they lose a life

All remaining lives are randomized among all players

Some kind of dungeon/trial chamber that needs to be completed

False and Cub are released onto the server to hunt the players

Some (or god forbid all) blocks have gravel/sand physics

Recycled gimmick from a previous season (eg. Tasks, soulmates)

Pvp is off, damage can only be dealt via spawn eggs or traps

An item that can be used to activate wildcards.

Whenever a player is eliminated, another wildcard is activated.

Every wildcard is only active for a session, until the final session where all previous wildcards are active simultaneously.

[iamcinephile]

I was incredibly pessimistic about this season and even wrote essays on other platforms criticizing how it’s been going. The writing felt completely off, and I still feel that way. Season 5 was a disaster, and the quality hasn’t improved much since—just more fanservice. But after today’s episode, I have this strange feeling that everything might turn out alright. Maybe I’m being delusional, but I think once we see the full picture, it’ll seem silly to believe they weren’t always meant to be endgame. That’s been the underlying story all along. Even if they don’t end up together romantically, they’ll at least part on good terms—as allies. The Paris reference, clearly drawing from Casablanca, and the theme of sacrifice will probably come full circle in episode 9. The writing is hinting at it from all angles. Luke was quiet the all show by taking care of Nichole, but I believe in episode 9 he’ll rise as the father fighting for his daughter. Moira has her fire back. Lawrence is on a redemption arc—he’s doomed either way, but he might go out doing the right thing. Aunt Lydia’s redemption could be allowing Janine to reunite with her daughter, possibly giving us the best ending for Janine. All of this might also pave the way for The Testaments, allowing June to see Hannah one final time. Nick—clearly the Casablanca reference, like Rick Blaine—might still surprise us. He’s the wildcard. To quote Christopher Nolan: “Because he’s not our hero. He’s a silent guardian. A watchful protector. A dark knight.” Wharton and the rest of the Commanders will likely be taken out by the U.S. army. And Serena? I believe she’ll have a kind of redemption arc too—helping June in some crucial way. And die for that. However, it’s bit shameful the quality of show is down on the rails. too many plot holes, at this point, I’m watching the show bit with my eyes closed and without questioning to much their logical thinking and their selective amnesia from the writers. (eg.: Rita hates Serena to her core, now they all have breakfast at Serena’s house 🙃) Meanwhile, trying to avoid the press notes and interviews. it's all B-S-. disclaimer: after today rewatch, I’m back at being pessimistic. They are clearly closing the door to June and Nick.

We are all in! Osblaine is the endgame.

[lorata]

Do you think capitol got repetitive with the arenas? I would imagine the complexity (?) of arenas increased as the audience wanted more bloodthirstiness than what they got throughout early years (eg. 10s/20s and even 30s)

oh gosh yeah.

the overall trends of the games ranging up more and more toward MORE blood MORE spectacle MORE MORE MORE is a major headcanon of mine and something i think is pretty well supported in the text. they don't like when tributes all slowly starve or shiver to death but get bored when there's too much food and not enough drama, they like the murder but not when it's gross (cannibalism)

it's the same reason i have D2 making sure not to send two district-loyal quarry kids in the same year anymore, they've learned that audiences get bored of that and it's too easy for a smart dark horse to be more interesting

arenas there's probably polling data to see what's popular, what do people like, what are people sick of, and sometimes they'll go with a favourite and sometimes they'll switch it up and throw in a wildcard. i do think there's probably a few repeat staples that make sense (certain biomes for example) since you can't actually do a showstopper EVERY year or they 75th would be, like, in outer space

[tubbytarchia]

I feel it’s unjustified and extremely harsh for you to say that Wild Life has “the least tension or meaningful viewer retention or investment in the characters” and “did bare explorations of interesting themes” only because your faves didn’t get to have a narratively satisfying ending or moments. It’s valid to be disappointed about what happened to them/their arc and I get it since I’ve felt that way too about my fave in some of the seasons, but I never blame it on the season’s gimmick or the CCs because I know nothing is scripted and things happen spontaneously. I can’t expect things to go the way it could go or be stuck on it because it’d be unrealistic of me to assume that everyone’s characters will get a spotlight or character development or have their plans for the season fulfilled. While you’re 100% allowed to feel upset and even to list Wild Life as your least favourite, it’s unwarranted to say this season had barely anything to give when it had a fun gimmick, awesome wildcards, new alliances, funny moments and skirmishes, and arguably is the most narratively satisfying season for the winner to win at. I love that you acknowledged this season wasn’t for you, but making blanket statements like those is unnecessarily cruel to the work the CCs have put into their videos.

I didn't blame anything on the CCs either, and all I stated was my opinion. I go out of my way to disclaim that I'm expressing opinion because of responses like this and still I get faulted for "blanket statements" when I don't end every sentence with "in my opinion"

I didn't watch all the POVs but none of them had me invested through to the end personally, not just my favorites. There were a lot of funny moments, it had that in entertainment value, but what I seek from Life Series is the drama and tension first and comedy second, which I acknowledged that this series just may not be trying to cater to anymore, therefore it isn't catering to me, but I can still be sad about it

Of course I'm interested in the characters by default, especially Pearl after seeing her alliance, I really wanted to see where it would go. In the end much of nothing went anywhere for anyone. BigB had a really strong start and kind of fizzled out through no fault of his own, the BAMers were a very cute dynamic and interesting for their kill count alone but then all went kind of unceremoniously and didn't leave me with a lot of emotional attachment, and I feel similarly about Gem and Joel. Scar especially suffered struggling to achieve what he had set out to do since episode 2. The Gs had some very good moments for me to chew on regarding Pearl's and Cleo's dynamic and such but that was a small saving grace. Gem and Pearl didn't get past stage 1 of their dynamic. The idea of untrustworthiness was posed with BigB and Etho pretty strongly regarding the Gs and then they just kinda stopped caring. Team BET were kind of doing their own thing and that worked really well, narratively those guys ended up having me the most intrigued and they were among the least interest for me at the start. So many alliances were proposed in passing eg Ren with Jimmy, BigB and anyone, and then nothing narratively compelling came of them if anything at all

Again, I don't blame the CCs whatsoever for any of my failed enjoyment, but the gimmicks took center stage and interferred with the tension and drama instead of encouraging it like Secret Life, which I think did what it did really well in spite of already being very gimmicky, and I feel confident in placing my problem with the series there. This time around there was just no room to breathe for at least half the episodes, the finale especially when no one was doing much of anything other than walking around deducing the gimmicks and dying to them instead of to each other until they were quite literally forced to. And that hampered the aspect that I enjoy the most and have gotten out of every season before it, hence why my disappointment is so potent. And at least one of the CCs seems to feel similarly about the unsatisfying resolutions and failed developments

Yes the new alliances were cool, yes the player that won deserved the win, etc etc, all fine in a vacuum but I didn't see much chance for them to prosper and wish these alliances and this win were part of a different season. It's my opinion and if you disagree then that's absolutely ok, and I welcome your own opinions but please stop faulting me for it. I wish I could have enjoyed it but I don't get to just change my main draw for the series unfortunately

[itstobias149]

Charater Dynamics

☘️Aran Ryan☘️

Hello everyone today I bring you another set of dynamics! According to our vote Aran Ryan is our winner! Now he is a character where I can do a lot with him story. This has to be one of my favorite dynamics that I have ever come up with. If you do not like oc’s, that’s okay! Just keep scrolling, not everyone does and that’s okay.

This post will not just contain the dynamic between Aran Ryan and Marie, but an exploration of the character himself through my eyes. Keep in mind that we all perceive these characters r differently! Anyway I hope you all enjoy!

Tw/ Depression, substance abuse, etc.

☘️The Basics☘️

Marie and Aran Ryan share a dynamic that is equal parts chaotic and tense, with a distinct undertone of unease on Marie’s part. Aran’s unpredictable and often unhinged nature makes him a wildcard in every situation, and while Marie has a knack for handling eccentric personalities, Aran’s brand of chaos puts her on edge. His erratic energy, sharp tongue, and tendency to turn even mundane moments into spectacles leave her unsure of how to navigate him—making her low-key scared of what he might do next.

Aran, for his part, likely finds Marie’s nervous reactions endlessly amusing. He thrives on the discomfort he creates, pushing boundaries with teasing comments or overly dramatic stunts just to see her squirm. Whether he’s making outrageous bets, dropping unsolicited advice, or egging her on in the ring, his relentless antics keep Marie constantly on guard. Her attempts to deflect his attention or avoid confrontation often backfire, as Aran seems to enjoy toying with her like a cat playing with its prey—not maliciously, but for his own twisted sense of entertainment.

Despite her fear, Marie can’t completely avoid Aran, especially in the close-knit world of the WVBA. This forces her into situations where she has to interact with him, leading to a tense kind of comedic interplay. Marie’s nervous humor and exasperated reactions only fuel Aran’s over-the-top personality, creating moments that are as uncomfortable for her as they are hilarious to everyone else.

At times, Aran’s wild energy might unintentionally push Marie to step out of her comfort zone. While she’d never admit it, there might be rare moments where she learns to handle his chaos in small doses—though her nerves never fully settle. Their dynamic is a precarious balancing act of Aran’s overwhelming presence and Marie’s attempts to navigate him without completely losing her composure, adding a layer of tension and unpredictability to their interactions.

☘️Meeting the Green Beast☘️

Marie’s first encounter with Aran Ryan as his cutman was an experience she wouldn’t soon forget. She’d been told to expect a handful when assigned to work with him for an upcoming match, but nothing could have prepared her for the whirlwind of chaos that was Aran. From the moment she stepped into his locker room, she was greeted with a mix of sarcastic comments, exaggerated gestures, and a wide grin that seemed to challenge her to keep up.

“Ah, so you’re the one they sent to patch me up, eh?” he said, sizing her up with a gleam in his eye. “Hope you’ve got steady hands, love. I tend to give the poor souls in your line of work plenty to do.”

Marie wasn’t sure if she should laugh or walk right back out the door, but she held her ground. “I’ve worked with worse,” she replied, trying to match his energy, though the nerves in her voice betrayed her.

The match itself was nothing short of exhausting—for both of them. Aran fought like he lived: recklessly and with a flair for the dramatic. Every round was a spectacle, with Aran taunting his opponent, gesturing to the crowd, and barely dodging hits in a way that made Marie’s heart stop. By the time he stumbled back to the corner, bleeding from his lip and grinning like he’d just won the lottery, Marie could hardly believe he was still standing.

“You’re gonna get yourself killed if you keep fighting like that,” she muttered, wiping the blood from his face and working quickly to reduce the swelling around his eye.

“Ah, but where’s the fun in playin’ it safe?” he shot back, winking at her despite the growing bruise on his cheek. “Keeps things exciting, don’t it?”

Marie rolled her eyes but couldn’t help the flicker of unease that settled in her chest. There was something unsettling about how carefree he was, as though he didn’t care about the toll it was taking on his body—or worse, that he thought he deserved it.

By the end of the match, Aran had won in spectacular fashion, much to the crowd’s delight and Marie’s exasperation. As they walked back to the locker room, he glanced over at her with a lopsided grin. “Not bad, eh? Looks like we make a good team.”

Marie wasn’t so sure about that, but she couldn’t deny there was something compelling about him, even if he terrified her just a little. In the days that followed, she found herself replaying their first meeting in her mind, wondering if there was more to the loud, unpredictable boxer than met the eye.

☘️More then let on☘️

Outside the WVBA’s chaotic spotlight, Marie’s dynamic with Aran takes on a more thoughtful, albeit tentative, tone. Despite her nervousness around him, Marie occasionally sees through his bombastic behavior, catching glimpses of something deeper beneath his antics. She’s perceptive enough to recognize that Aran’s wild energy and constant need for attention might be masking something more vulnerable. In quieter moments, away from the crowd, she finds herself compelled to ask him if he’s really okay, her concern genuine despite her usual unease around him.

These rare interactions are a stark contrast to their usual chaotic exchanges. Aran, unused to being confronted so directly, might brush her off with a joke or deflect with his usual bravado. But Marie’s persistence—gentle yet firm—could chip away at his defenses, if only for a moment. Her sincerity might leave him surprised, perhaps even caught off guard, as he realizes that she genuinely cares about him, even if she doesn’t fully understand him.

For Marie, these moments of connection are both unsettling and important. She worries about Aran not just because of his erratic behavior, but because she sees the potential for him to spiral if left unchecked. Despite her own discomfort, she’s willing to step outside her comfort zone to offer him a listening ear, even if she’s unsure he’ll take it. These moments don’t resolve the tension between them, but they add depth to their dynamic, revealing a shared humanity beneath the chaos.

Aran Ryan’s mental health is a complex and fragile thing, hidden behind layers of bravado and mischief. On the surface, he thrives on chaos, reveling in his reputation as the unpredictable wild card of the WVBA. He’s loud, he’s reckless, and he seems utterly unbothered by the opinions of others. But beneath the surface, Aran’s constant need for attention and his over-the-top antics may stem from a deep sense of inadequacy and isolation. He’s the type to laugh the loudest in the room, but only because he’s terrified of what might surface in the silence.

Aran likely struggles with feelings of being misunderstood, or worse, entirely overlooked. His antics might be a way to demand acknowledgment, a plea to remind the world that he’s there, that he matters. At the same time, this relentless energy masks a fear of vulnerability—of being seen for who he really is. His life in the spotlight may amplify these insecurities, as he pushes himself harder and harder to maintain the persona of the charismatic troublemaker, even when it starts to take a toll on him.

Behind closed doors, Aran might feel the weight of his own loneliness. For all his charm and bravado, meaningful connections could elude him. He likely struggles with opening up, unsure of how to let people past the walls he’s built with humor and theatrics. When he’s alone, the cracks in his facade begin to show, and he’s left with a restlessness he doesn’t quite know how to handle. It’s easier to keep moving, keep joking, and keep distracting himself than to face whatever’s lurking in the stillness.

This internal battle likely leaves Aran in a constant state of emotional exhaustion, though he’s quick to hide it. His energy seems boundless, but it comes at a cost—a cycle of highs where he thrives in the chaos and lows where he’s left grappling with his own doubts. The rare moments when his guard slips reveal a man who’s far more complex and vulnerable than he lets on, someone who might desperately need help but doesn’t know how to ask for it.

Aran’s mental health struggles might not be visible to most, as he expertly deflects with wit and theatrics. But for those who look closely, the signs are there: the subtle cracks in his confidence, the way his energy falters when he thinks no one’s watching, and the quiet pain hidden behind his grin. Beneath all the noise, Aran is a man at odds with himself, unsure of how to reconcile the person he shows the world with the one he faces in the mirror.

☘️Smokes and booze☘️

Ryan’s vices of smoking and drinking are a quiet storm he carries everywhere he goes. On the surface, they seem like typical bad habits—easy to dismiss in a world where everyone has their struggles. But for Ryan, they are more than that; they are coping mechanisms born from years of unresolved battles within himself. The cigarettes are his escape, each drag a moment of clarity amidst the chaos in his mind, while the alcohol serves as his way of numbing emotions he’d rather not feel.

It started small—one drink after a fight to “take the edge off,” one cigarette on a rough day. But over time, these habits became part of his routine, a crutch he relied on to deal with the pressures of his life and the mistakes he’s made. The regrets? They pile up, each one heavier than the last. There was the time he lashed out at a teammate during training after one too many drinks, the words sharper and crueler than he ever intended. He still remembers the look of betrayal on their face, a wound he’s never been able to repair.

And then there are the nights he drank alone, the haze of the alcohol convincing him to send messages he should’ve never sent or to pick fights he wasn’t proud of. Those mornings, with a pounding headache and the weight of shame pressing down on him, are the ones that stick with him most. He regrets the bridges he burned, the friendships he strained, and the missed opportunities to be better because he let his vices win.

But the deepest regrets come from the times he sees the impact his habits have on the people who care about him—Marie, for example, catching him smoking outside the gym late one night. Her quiet disappointment hurt more than any punch he’d ever taken in the ring. She didn’t scold him or lecture him, just stood there, her presence alone enough to make him feel exposed.

Ryan knows his habits are a problem. He’s tried to quit before, promising himself that each drink would be the last, that he’d crush his last cigarette and move on. But the cycle is hard to break, and the regret is a constant companion. He’s not proud of what he’s done or the ways he’s hurt himself and others because of it. Still, in the quiet moments, when the smoke clears and the haze lifts, there’s a part of him that hopes—hopes that he can find the strength to be better, even if it’s one small step at a time.

Ryan’s vices didn’t come out of nowhere; they were born from a life that often left him feeling like he had no other way to cope. Growing up, he was taught to be tough, to push through pain and never let weakness show. But that kind of pressure came at a cost. He didn’t have an outlet for his emotions, and over time, they started to fester. The expectations, the failures, the loneliness—it all built up, and he had nowhere to put it.

Smoking came first, during his teenage years. It was small at first, something to do when the silence felt too loud or when the weight of his thoughts became unbearable. It wasn’t even about the nicotine at first; it was about the ritual, the way it gave him a moment to himself, something he could control. Each cigarette felt like a pause button on everything else in his life, even if it was just for a few minutes.

Drinking came later, after he joined the WVBA. The pressure to perform, to maintain his reputation, and to always be at his best wore him down. The sport brought him purpose, but it also magnified his insecurities. Every fight was a test, not just of his strength but of his worth. When he felt like he didn’t measure up—or even when he did but the satisfaction was fleeting—the bottle became an easy refuge. Drinking wasn’t just about dulling the pain; it was about silencing the doubts that crept in late at night.

Ryan also started drinking as a way to fit in. The culture around the sport often encouraged it���celebrating wins with rounds of drinks, drowning losses in a similar fashion. At first, it felt harmless, just another part of the life he’d chosen. But over time, it became more than that. Drinking turned into something he did when he was alone, too, when the applause had faded and the reality of his struggles set in.

There’s guilt tied to the reasons he started. He knows that, deep down, he turned to smoking and drinking because he didn’t know how to ask for help. The habits feel like a crutch he leaned on for too long, but in some ways, they’re also reminders of the battles he’s faced—ones he’s still trying to figure out how to win.

☘️Leave the Lady alone☘️

Aran Ryan’s loyalty to Marie, though often buried under layers of teasing and chaos, shows itself in unexpected ways—especially when she’s not around. In the loud, ego-driven world of the WVBA, it’s rare for anyone to defend someone without personal gain, but Aran does it for Marie instinctively, without hesitation.

One evening, after a match, the locker room was alive with the usual post-fight chatter, but the conversation turned sour when a few boxers started throwing casual, dismissive comments about Marie. They called her too soft to keep up with the fast-paced life of the WVBA, implying that her nerves and occasional awkwardness made her unfit for the job. Aran, leaning back against the lockers with his usual smirk, suddenly went quiet, his sharp green eyes narrowing.

“Say what you want about her,” he interrupted, his tone deceptively light but carrying an edge that cut through the noise, “but she’s better at her job than half of you are at yours.” The room fell silent, the playful chaos replaced by a sudden tension.

One of the boxers scoffed. “What’s it to you, Ryan? She your new best friend or somethin’?”

Aran stood up, his grin curling into something more dangerous. “Nah,” he said, his voice calm but laced with warning. “I just don’t like it when people run their mouths about someone who works harder than they’ll ever bother to.” He shrugged, stepping closer to the group. “Besides, she’s tougher than you lot give her credit for. You’d know that if you paid attention instead of flappin’ your gums.”

With that, he turned on his heel and left the room, leaving the group too stunned to respond. As he walked out into the night, the tension in his shoulders eased, and a familiar tune hummed itself into his mind—“She’s Always a Woman to Me” by Billy Joel. The song had wormed its way into his head ever since he’d first seen Marie working, her careful hands and nervous humor contrasting with the relentless chaos of their world. He wouldn’t admit it, but the song reminded him of her in ways he didn’t fully understand.

She didn’t need to be there to know he had her back, and Aran liked it that way. Defending her wasn’t about scoring points or looking good—it was just something he felt compelled to do. For all his bluster and unpredictability, there was a quiet, unspoken respect he held for her, one he wasn’t sure he’d ever fully put into words. Instead, he let his actions speak for him, even when she wasn’t there to see.

☘️Song Association ☘️

For Aran, “She’s Always a Woman to Me” became more than just a song—it became a secret code, a way of understanding Marie when he couldn’t quite put her into words. He didn’t know what it was about the song that stuck to him so deeply. Maybe it was the vulnerability beneath the lyrics, the raw truth that people like him—tough, loud, always putting on a show—rarely let anyone see. The way Billy Joel’s words described a woman who could be both tough and tender, a paradox of strength and softness, resonated with something deep inside Aran. It was as if the song could see Marie the way he saw her—complex, layered, and unknowable.

He wasn’t the type to open up about feelings—least of all to Marie. His bravado, the constant need to make everything a spectacle, was all part of the armor he built to protect himself. But that song—her song—had a way of breaking through his defenses. Every time it played, he’d find himself lost in the lyrics, trying to reconcile the image of Marie that he kept tucked away in the quietest parts of his mind.

“She can kill with a smile, she can wound with her eyes…”

At first, he dismissed the line as a silly romantic notion, something that didn’t apply to her at all. But as he thought about it, the more it made sense. Marie didn’t need to throw punches to be powerful. She had this quiet way of commanding respect, a kind of sharpness in her gaze that cut through the bullshit and revealed truths people weren’t ready to face. Aran knew that firsthand—he’d seen it in her, especially when she was around people who underestimated her. She didn’t let them see her fear, her hesitation. She just stood her ground and carried on, even when she felt like she was drowning.

But it wasn’t just the moments of strength that made Aran connect with the song. It was the contradictions. Marie had her moments of doubt, of second-guessing herself, of feeling completely out of place in the chaos she found herself surrounded by. She hid it well—always smiling, always acting like she was in control. But Aran saw through it. He knew that, sometimes, her smile was a mask, a shield to keep the world from seeing how deeply unsure she was of everything around her.

“She hides like a child, but she’s always a woman to me…”

The line hit him like a punch in the gut, its truth so stark and raw that he had to look away the first time he heard it. Marie, in her own way, was both tough and fragile—like a child trying to navigate a world too big for her, but with the quiet wisdom of someone who had already seen more than she should have. There was something about the way she approached the world, so tentative but so unrelenting at the same time, that reminded him of himself—how he hid his own insecurities behind laughter and showmanship, never letting anyone get close enough to see the cracks.

It was in the moments when he watched her work, when she carefully tended to his wounds with the utmost precision, that Aran began to understand what the song really meant. She wasn’t like the others. She wasn’t here for glory, or praise, or attention. She was here because, in her own quiet way, she cared. And that made her different from everyone else. The song wasn’t about idolizing her; it was about seeing her complexity. It was about understanding that beneath the chaos, the teasing, and the tension, there was someone who was constantly fighting to hold it all together, even when no one else noticed.

Aran never spoke about the song to anyone. It remained his silent truth, the melody that played in his mind when he saw her, when he thought about the way she navigated the chaos of his world without ever letting it consume her. He couldn’t tell her that he understood her, or that she was more important to him than he was willing to admit, but the song said everything he couldn’t. In a world that constantly demanded more from him, it was the one thing that grounded him and reminded him that, despite everything, Marie was something real—a constant in the ever-shifting madness of the WVBA.

The line “She can bring out the best and the worst you can be…” became one of the most hauntingly accurate descriptions of Marie in Aran’s mind. It wasn’t just about her presence or her actions, but the way she unknowingly altered the course of his behavior, both in the ring and outside of it.

Marie had this subtle power over Aran, not in a manipulative sense, but in the way her existence forced him to reckon with his own contradictions. When she was around, there was something about her that pushed him to be more than the cocky, reckless fighter everyone expected him to be. Her quiet strength, her refusal to back down from the chaos even when she seemed overwhelmed, made Aran want to do better—be better. He found himself stepping back, taking a breath, and thinking twice before making a brash decision. She brought out the best in him in those moments, pushing him toward self-reflection, if only for a fleeting second.

But at the same time, there were times when her quiet intensity made him act out in ways he wasn’t proud of. In a strange way, she seemed to unsettle him—her calm confidence and her refusal to bend made him feel exposed, like he wasn’t enough. The more he tried to show off, to be the larger-than-life personality that everyone expected, the more he realized he was trying to keep up with her without really understanding why. Her disinterest in his antics—the way she barely reacted to his theatrics—made him act out in ways that were childish and desperate. He’d taunt her, show off, and try to get under her skin, all because he didn’t know how to handle the fact that, in some ways, he saw her as untouchable, above the noise of his own insecurities.

Her presence—quiet, steady, and always so grounded—brought out both the best and worst in him. There were days when he caught himself thinking, Why am I doing this?—and it was usually when he realized that, in the face of her unshakable composure, he felt like he was crumbling just a little. She never demanded anything from him, yet there he was, putting on a show that felt more and more like a mask.

It wasn’t just about their interactions, either. In the larger picture, the line encapsulated the effect she had on his world. Whenever she was around, there was a shift—a challenge, really. Her presence forced him to confront the parts of himself he usually buried under noise, antics, and bravado. Sometimes that made him want to rise to the occasion, to be someone who could stand beside her without feeling so small. Other times, it made him act out, to lash out and try to regain control, even when he knew he wasn’t really in control at all.

The duality of it left Aran torn—drawn to her quiet power, yet equally frustrated by it. He never fully understood why she had this effect on him, why she could bring out sides of him he didn’t even recognize. But every time that line from the song played in his mind, he couldn’t deny it. Marie did bring out the best and the worst in him, and though he fought against it, deep down, he knew it was one of the most honest things about their connection.

The line “She’s always a woman to me” had become an anchor in Aran’s mind, a quiet truth that lingered, even when he tried to distance himself from it. It was a paradox, really—he knew that Marie wasn’t someone he could fully understand, someone whose presence both unsettled and grounded him in ways he couldn’t articulate. But regardless of the complexities or contradictions, she was always a woman to him, and that was something deeper than attraction, something that defied explanation.

It wasn’t just that she was a woman in the traditional sense—it was that she was a person in the truest form, a force that couldn’t be pigeonholed or reduced to any single label. Aran knew Marie was interesting, yes, but she was also so much more than that. She wasn’t defined by her role in the WVBA, by the chaos around her, or by the way people underestimated her. She was a person whose every action, no matter how small, felt imbued with a quiet depth that Aran couldn’t ignore. She didn’t need to impress anyone, and yet she always left an impression.

The beauty of the line was in its simplicity: she’s always a woman to me. It didn’t require further explanation. No matter how chaotic, how offbeat, or how out of place Aran sometimes felt in his own life, Marie remained a constant—a force, a presence, that shaped his world. She was always herself in a way that he couldn’t quite replicate, couldn’t mimic or understand fully. Yet, despite all of her layers, all the complexity and distance, Aran found himself irrevocably drawn to her. And in some strange, quiet part of him, he knew this draw was more than surface-level attraction—it was something that transcended the superficial, something that settled deep in his chest.

His love for her wasn’t something he could define with clear words. It wasn’t the kind of love that demanded reciprocation or even understanding. It was an unspoken truth, a deep-rooted connection that existed outside of the mess they found themselves in. Aran wasn’t sure how or why it happened. Maybe it was the way she carried herself, her quiet strength that made him want to protect her, or the way she never let the world break her down. Or perhaps it was the way she made him confront himself—the best and worst parts of him—that somehow brought him closer to her, even when he didn’t quite understand why.

But no matter how hard he tried to push it away, Aran knew that Marie was always a woman to him. She was a person he could never fully explain, a person who was both an enigma and a simple truth all at once. And while the full depths of his feelings for her might never be known—even to himself—he was certain of one thing: his connection to her was something that would always remain. In her quiet way, she was the most interesting, the most compelling, and the most real thing in his world. And in the end, that was enough.

☘️Moments between the two☘️

Aran and Marie’s interactions, though often unspoken, were punctuated by moments of quiet understanding, unacknowledged affection, and the occasional chaos they both found themselves caught up in. Their dynamic wasn’t one of overt declarations or grand gestures; rather, it was shaped by subtle exchanges, glances, and actions that spoke louder than words ever could.

1. The Unexpected Moment of Care

One late evening after a particularly brutal match, Aran found himself sitting in a quiet corner of the gym, wrapping his hands. The fight had been grueling, and the adrenaline was wearing off, leaving him with a dull ache in his muscles. Marie, who had been attending to another fighter, moved toward him, her presence almost serene in the chaos of the gym. Without a word, she handed him a bottle of water. Aran glanced up at her, his usual smirk not quite making it to his face. He noticed the way she kept her distance, her gaze not lingering too long, but enough to convey a silent understanding.

“You’re not looking too good,” she said softly, her voice carrying a hint of concern, though she tried to mask it with her usual quiet calm.

Aran chuckled, the sound rough from the fight. “When have I ever looked good?” He took the water, but instead of drinking immediately, he just held it in his hands for a moment, letting the gesture sink in. Marie didn’t ask for anything in return, didn’t demand attention or recognition. She just was. And in that simple moment, Aran couldn’t help but feel a sense of gratitude, though he’d never say it out loud.

2. The Song That Played

Later that night, the gym’s speakers hummed to life as the cleaning crew moved about. Aran, sitting in the bleachers, was zoning out when the familiar strains of “She’s Always a Woman to Me” began to play softly in the background. He paused, the familiar melody pulling his focus. He hadn’t thought about it in a while, but hearing it now, in the quiet of the gym after the chaos of the fight, it felt like something in his chest shifted.

Marie, walking by with a clipboard in hand, froze for a moment when she heard the song too. She glanced in his direction, her eyes meeting his briefly, before she continued on with her task. There was something about that brief exchange—those few seconds where their worlds seemed to align in the stillness of the moment—that spoke volumes. Aran didn’t know if she had any idea what that song meant to him, or if she even noticed the way he watched her. But in that instant, he couldn’t help but wonder if she somehow felt the weight of the connection between them.

3. The Silent Protectiveness

One evening, while Marie was busy tending to a fighter’s cuts in the ring, Aran overheard a group of boxers making some offhand comments about her—laughing at her “awkward” nature, questioning how she could possibly handle the intensity of the sport. Aran’s expression darkened, and without a word, he stormed over to them, silencing their taunts with a sharp, “Shut up.”

They looked at him, confused, as if to say, What’s it to you? Aran didn’t elaborate, but his voice had enough of an edge to make them back off. The moment was over as quickly as it had started, and Aran returned to his spot in the gym, but his eyes remained on Marie. She hadn’t heard the comments, or if she had, she didn’t show it. Still, there was something about her calm that made Aran feel a need to protect her, even if she never asked for it.

4. The Unspoken Understanding After Chaos

After a particularly messy event involving a press conference that ended with spilled drinks and heated arguments, Aran found Marie sitting alone on the bleachers in the corner of the gym. She was rubbing her temples, clearly exhausted by the frenzy of the evening. He didn’t ask her if she was okay—he knew better. Instead, he sat beside her, a comfortable distance between them.

For a while, they said nothing. He could hear her breathing slow, a sign that she was calming down, and though the silence between them was thick with unspoken words, it wasn’t uncomfortable. Aran’s gaze was distant, lost in the noise of his own thoughts. He didn’t know if he could offer her any comfort, but in that moment, he felt connected to her in a way that words could never fully capture. She didn’t ask for anything from him, but her presence had a way of making everything feel less overwhelming. He didn’t try to fix anything. He just sat there, letting the silence stretch between them until it wasn’t so heavy.

5. The Glance That Said It All

One evening, after a particularly brutal training session, Aran caught sight of Marie in the hallway, looking tired but determined as she walked past him. There was a certain fire in her eyes that always intrigued him—something that made her seem unstoppable, even when she didn’t feel that way. Their eyes met for just a fraction of a second, and in that brief moment, something unspoken passed between them.

It wasn’t love in the romantic sense, nor was it something he could define clearly. But in her gaze, there was an understanding—an acknowledgment of something deeper, something they both carried but never spoke about. Aran didn’t look away, and for a second, it felt like time had paused just for them. Then, as quickly as it had come, the moment passed, and Marie was gone, off to tend to another fighter or some other task that needed her attention. Aran, however, was left with that single glance—a reminder that, no matter what happened, she would always be her, and he would always be him, and that, somehow, was enough.

Each of these moments, though seemingly small, shaped the unspoken bond between Aran and Marie. There was no grand revelation, no dramatic confessions. Just quiet exchanges, where their connection was understood, not explained. And though Aran never fully understood the depth of his feelings for her, the truth was simple: he loved her in a way he could never define, but it was real, undeniable, and, in its own way, perfect.

☘️The moments the made it☘️

☘️Trying to Sober Him Up☘️

It was late night, after another grueling day of training, the gym nearly empty, almost a sanctuary for the two of them. Aran had been drinking heavily that evening—trying to drown out the frustration from an ongoing, unsolvable issue in his life. He had stumbled into the locker room, laughing loudly at some joke only he understood, but it was clear by the way his movements were uncoordinated that he was more than tipsy.

Marie, having finished her work for the night, had been about to leave when she caught the sound of his voice. She paused, her gaze shifting toward the locker room. It wasn’t unusual for Aran to act out, but the way he was stumbling, his laughter bordering on manic, made her pause.

She walked quietly toward him, watching as he attempted to steady himself on the bench, slurring words to no one in particular. Marie didn’t say anything immediately, but her eyes softened. She had seen him like this before—acting out, masking something beneath the bravado, but she never got to the core of it. She sighed and crossed her arms.

“You’re gonna regret this in the morning,” she said, her voice steady and calm, though there was an edge of concern.

Aran’s head snapped in her direction, and he smiled widely. “Marie! Come on, don’t be such a buzzkill,” he slurred, his words barely coherent.

Marie didn’t bite. She knelt down beside him, taking a deep breath. “You’ve had enough,” she said firmly, though there was no judgment in her voice, just a quiet concern.

Aran, in his haze, wasn’t able to read her tone properly, but he could hear the softness beneath the sternness. There was a flicker of vulnerability in his eyes as he swayed. “You’re no fun,” he muttered.

“Maybe,” she said, her hand gently guiding him to stand. “But I’m getting you sober. Now sit still.”

She helped him to the bathroom, finding a towel to drape over his face to cool him off, offering him water every few minutes, talking softly to him about anything but the reasons he was drinking. For a while, it felt like a role reversal. Normally, it was him guiding others, offering advice in his usual cocky way. But tonight, it was Marie who had the reins. She wasn’t trying to force him into a conversation he wasn’t ready for, but in her quiet way, she was making sure he was taken care of, even when he couldn’t take care of himself. They sat together dress in the shower, back against the wall facing each other. Absolute Silence.

It wasn’t a victory, but it was a moment of understanding—one that passed silently between them, with no words needed other than the occasional check-in. By the time Aran finally started to feel the effects of sobriety, he could see the care in Marie’s eyes, even if he couldn’t name it. And though he was too stubborn to say it, he appreciated the fact that, for once, someone had his back when he needed it the most.

☘️Crying and Smoking☘️

It was one of those nights when the weight of everything seemed to crush down on Marie. The pressure of the WVBA, the chaos of her life, and the never-ending responsibilities were beginning to overwhelm her. She needed a moment to herself, so she slipped outside the gym, unnoticed by most, to the back alley. There, she lit a cigarette, taking a long drag, her hand shaking slightly as she tried to steady her nerves. The cool night air did nothing to ease the fire building in her chest, but for the moment, she just needed to feel something—anything other than the stress that had been slowly suffocating her.

Marie didn’t expect anyone to find her. She had always been the quiet one, the one who carried her burdens without asking for help. But the night was unusually still, and the sound of footsteps echoed from the alleyway. She didn’t look up at first, thinking it was just a passerby. But when the figure stopped next to her, she recognized the deep voice.

“You know, you’re not supposed to smoke that stuff,” Aran said, his tone light but laced with something else she couldn’t quite place.

Marie stiffened, the cigarette halfway to her lips. She didn’t want to deal with anyone tonight—especially not Aran. But as much as she wanted to dismiss him, she didn’t.

“I’m not in the mood for company,” she said quietly, taking another drag of the cigarette, hoping he’d take the hint.

Aran ignored the tone. “Yeah, well, I didn’t ask if you were in the mood.”

There was a moment of silence. Marie glanced over at him, surprised. Aran wasn’t the type to just sit in silence, not usually anyway. But there he was, standing beside her without judgment, leaning against the wall with his hands in his pockets. His gaze wasn’t pitying—just an odd kind of understanding that caught her off guard.

“Long day?” he asked casually, but there was an underlying softness in his voice.

Marie exhaled slowly, her gaze dropping to the ground. “You have no idea,” she murmured, the weight of the day pressing heavily on her chest.

Aran didn’t ask more questions. Instead, he leaned back against the wall next to her and, without saying a word, lit a cigarette of his own. They stood there together in silence for a while, the smoke curling up into the air, the sounds of the world outside fading into the background.

For once, Marie didn’t feel the need to hide. She didn’t need to pretend that she was fine, that she had everything under control. Aran, in his own quiet way, understood that. And for the first time in a long time, she didn’t feel like she had to carry the burden of everything on her own. She didn’t need him to fix anything; she just needed the silence, the presence of someone who wasn’t trying to change her, to make her talk. He would take his cigarette and Marie’s and toss them onto the snow before stomping them with a grunt. He then squeezed her shoulder before going back inside.

The two of them stood there in the cool night, neither of them speaking much, just sharing the moment. And while the conversation was light, almost nonchalant, there was something comforting in the shared silence—a reminder that, in this strange, difficult world, they weren’t alone.

☘️summary☘️

Aran and Marie’s dynamic is defined by quiet understanding and unspoken care. Aran, often distant and guarded, finds in Marie a steady presence, someone who doesn’t try to fix him but simply is—someone who offers quiet support when he needs it, whether he’s drunk or dealing with his inner struggles. Marie, on the other hand, carries her own burdens but is vulnerable in her rare moments of weakness, when Aran finds her, not needing to fix anything but just to stand beside her. Their bond is unspoken, a mixture of protection, silence, and unacknowledged affection.

A Final Peek into Their Dynamic

One evening, after a particularly tough match, Aran sat alone on a bench, nursing his bruises. Marie was still busy tending to other fighters, but when she noticed him sitting there in the corner, she made her way over. Without a word, she handed him a cold compress for his face.

“Not gonna thank me, are you?” she said, a soft smile on her lips.

Aran smirked but didn’t meet her eyes. “Not really in the mood.”

Marie didn’t push him. She just sat next to him, her presence as grounding as always. There were no grand gestures—no words of comfort. Just the quiet of the moment, with the shared understanding that they were both there for each other, in their own way. In that silence, Aran felt something he rarely allowed himself to: peace.

I hope you guys enjoyed this post! This is one of my favorite dynamics. The understanding they have and the mutual respect even when he’s giving her a hard time. Let me know what you guys think!

-Tobias

[grimaussiewitch]

While Wild life is tied for my least favourite season so far I do appreciate that the wildcards are allowing players to do their own things and occasionally interfering with the players.

I don’t know if Grian had all of these planed in an order or had backups but it sounds like he heard the communities feedback. What were their complaints? The wildcards interfered too much with the players session decisions and interactions with each other (Eg too focused on eating or running away from snails)

[wavesoutbeingtossed]

https://variety.com/2025/film/news/blake-lively-abandons-claims-justin-baldoni-1236414177/

tl;dr: blake is withdrawing her claims against justin re: him causing her emotional distress. she'd have to hand over her medical records/her therapist(s) would have to hand over notes from their sessions and knowing baldoni and his team, they would likely leak those details

Thanks for this! And for everyone who helped catch me up.

Baldoni and Freedman and their teams are such pieces of shit. But this is exactly why Freedman is so successful— he acts like such a wildcard that he scares people into settling or withdrawing before it ever gets to trial, which is how he skirts the line of misconduct or sanctions.

by waging the war in the court of public opinion all this time, they’ve proven that they will spin whatever bullshit they want to the press and get away with it, and there’s no doubt they’ve proven they’ll leak too and can hide behind the veil of “sources say,” given how they have The Daily Mail and TMZ in their back pockets. Again: the whole point of this was to scare women into not coming forward with harassment allegations, and they just pulled their trump card on Blake. They had nothing left to lose and they knew it.

it sucks because Blake’s case absolutely has merit, and the emotional distress of the harassment campaign goes hand in hand with the sexual harassment that preceded it, but she’s being bullied into silence about it. And it’s also cost her a great deal personally (eg friendships), not to mention I’m sure financially. I hope she’s able to still go after him for the rest of her claims.

[lxrd-ren]

Life Series Team-Ups I Really Wanna See:

- Tango + Joel

I could see them egging each other on if say they have beef with someone else (probably Scott knowing Joel), like two mad dogs without their leashes except they take turns being the mad dog, until they're both red that is :) They probably wouldn't make it until the end but it would still be fun watching their shenanigans. Plus, with the building skills from both, they could probably make a pretty sick base. Not to mention they cover each others blind spots what with Tango's redstone skills and Joel's pvp being quite good.

- Etho + Scar

The pair of them are wildcards so them teaming up would be the ultimate chaos combo. They also balance each other out sort of with Ethos chaos being more controlled and Scars chaos being more erratic and varying degrees of severity. Scar would get Etho to cause chaos more frequently and Etho would get Scar to A) Think it out properly and not just burn everything on a whim and B) Take precautions to not lead it back to them. Although there is a possibility they will betray each other, aslong as they don't base in or near a tree that is Ethos they should be a-ok for the most part 👍. I feel like this team-up is more unlikely than some of the others on this list but I'd still love to see it happen.

- Cleo + Jimmy

Girlboss meets wet cat, the ultimate combo. Although to be fair Jimmy was causing proper damage left and right in Secret Life so together they could probably be quite the duo. Although they will just make a lot of enemies very quickly so they gotta make allies and get geared up sharpish if they don't wanna be eliminated first; lookin at you canary >_> I don't see pvp being their strong suit so their best bet would be to rely on defence like armour and traps. Also a duo that talks a lotta shit; thing is, only one of them can get away with it. Jimmy would probably also be too scared to betray Cleo so fingers crossed there's no repeat of Last Life.

- Skizz + Scott + Grian

The get-shit-done trio. I could definitely see this trio lasting until the end with all their tendencies to make and uphold alliance's. Grian would likely be the planner, Scott provide the resources, and Skizz as #1 hype man. Also have a feeling that Scar would be at the top of their kill list. And again with two builders they could get a really cool base going. Not sure what their team name could be but Scott would likely be the one to come up with it. Aslong as they have loyalty to each other, which I've no doubt they will have, they could be a great team.

- Bdubs + Martyn

What with their willingness to go along with crazy plans and bits, this duo could get up to some shenanigans and a half lemme tell ya. I could also see them lasting a while. Bdubs would likely be a base-dweller with building the actual base and defences whilst Martyn gets the needed resources to get ahead of the other teams. Also quick to establish alliances and enemies. I feel like they'd settle on a mountain. Also a Martyn betrayal would go crazy against the ever loyal Bdubs.

- Impulse + Pearl

This duo is mainly because of how Scott's teammates usually go on to win either the current season or the next season and neither Gem nor Impulse has won it yet, paired with how Pearl has tried and sadly failed the past two seasons to get her teammates to win, she could very well break her curse if she pairs up with the most-likely to win in terms of Scott statistics. If they put their heads together they could make a really defence-able base, like Pearl's tower in Double Life, so they don't need to worry about head-to-head combat. Not to mention they're both great with a bow. I imagine Pearl could snipe some kills from up high whilst Impulse triggers redstone traps and the like. Their team name could be Pulse. This duo would definitely get far but I don't see both of them being in the final three; with any luck Impulse is the one in the final three again.

- Scar + Lizzie

I feel like they would talk a lotta shit but then that would lead to them being underestimated so it's all that more unexpected when they show they can wack a lotta shit too. Likely won't last until the end though. Plus it would be quite fitting what with them two being the loners of secret life to join up in the next season. I know this pairing is more unlikely given how Lizzie has only been in two seasons but still. Also I could totally see their base being a castle of sorts with Lizzie as the queen and Scar as her advisor. They'd also both get into and out of situations by swindling and sweet-talking. Speaking of, them first teaming up would likely be Scar trying to swindle Lizzie and then teaming up with her perhaps as a sorry and then it just kinda sticks; think Mean Gills kinda start.

- Ren + Gem

First off, their names rythme so instantly they're a great duo. Admittedly since Gem has only been in one season I can't really predict what her dynamic would be with, well, the majority of the members but I'm thinking tamed dog + rabid deer kinda thing. Their base would likely involve nature and they're probably gonna be either allied or enemies with Scott, no in-between.

- Etho + Mumbo

Ah yes, the duo that collectively knows niche and important things about the game, majority of it being about redstone and mob farms, but have no clue when it comes to basic things; like crafting fishing rods (cough cough Etho). I don't think they'd make it until the end but they'd get quite far I imagine. Probably would be allied with Grian in some way or another. I think they'd also both agree to keep an eye on Cleo but only because they're both intimidated of her. Like in Last Life I think Mumbo would be the stay-at-home husband whilst Etho socialises and gets resources. Plus I could see them getting stuff like end crystals and other things. I feel like Etho would come up with plans and Mumbo would go along with it no questions asked. But considering their curses, Mumbo probably will succumb to a lava or fire death. They may also get a teammate I'm not sure who though if Grian is already in an alliance. Perhaps Bdubs; I mean that's basically what happened in both Limited and Secret Life. Again like Lizzie, this duo is less likely given how Mumbo has also only been in two seasons but we can pray🙏.

[evil-mcytblrconfessions]

I think why I’ve come to find secret life and potential wild life boring and out of place is the mechanics being too “modded” and not connected to the life system.

Third life is the base. You have three lives, you are aggressive on your third life and when you die you’re out forever. Besides name tag colour change and going into spectators mode, this is the easiest to recreate with friends.

Last life both the give heart command and boggie cruse relate to your hearts/life. Alright pretty straight forward and it relates to the life system.

Double life is just third life but you share your health and life with someone. Still connects to the whole heart and life system.

Limited life changes this up by replacing your life with time. Not the biggest departure from the life system but it’s still noticeable. Yellows being able to kill green is new but for limited life it made sense.

Secret life has too much going on. You have three lives but really you have 30 hearts and can’t regen said hearts. Oh and you have tasks that dictate the whole series and is the only way you get hearts back. And a lot of these tasks aren’t even related to your hearts (Eg: build a base over someone else’s base, ride a pig around, act like a weeping Angel) oh and yellows can now call out tasks and reds have their owns tasks. What I’m trying to say is that secret life wasn’t about hearts or the life system, it was about tasks. They made up the season.

And finally we have wild life. At the time of writing this the wildcard system does not affect your hearts or life. We’ll just have to see where it goes but I fear it too will drift far away from being a mechanic connected to your hearts/life system.

.

[n0-1r]

Personas/Personae whatever

Note: I dont proofread and i have not played a persona game in a good while so feel free to correct me or something

Very minor spoilers for Persona 1 (mention of a certain death at the start of the game), 5 (mention of a major (unnamed) villain's persona)

So what is a persona? According to Jungian Psychology, everyone has masks, personas if you will, in life. It's pretty complicated but basically these beings they’re awakening to are representations of their personality.

Each character has an arcana eg. Naoya being an Emperor and his persona is a protective diety, which basically sums up their personality, then they have sub-arcana, these can be interpreted as their other masks. You can put on a personality that isn’t your own when you’re talking to someone you don’t like, you put on another personality when you’re public speaking ect. but these masks aren't authentically you, you may be able to portray this mask but perhaps not as comfortably than being yourself. This concept is expressed in the oldsona games with party members having a main arcana and therefore be able to utilise a persona's skills to the fullest and various sub-arcana they may use well but not perfectly. Additionally there may be arcana/masks characters are weak in using/portraying and can only use a few skills or none at all.

The modern persona games include the concept of a 'wild-card', a persona user who is able to wield all (most) personas with ease and reducing everyone else to one arcana and one persona (until they evolve but are still only restricted to the use of one persona). These wildcards are typically of the 'Fool' arcana (jack of all trades, master of none arcana basically) and are therefore, able gain this ability to mask as whoever, supported by the silent-protagonist style of character these are (the heros the other wildcards are just cooler ig) and the (i don't want to say dating-sim-esque but it kinda is) gameplay.

Awakening to a persona is like showing how you: Embrace who you are, Gain courage to face death, the truth, your oppressors ect. You gain a persona (in modern iterations) by facing death and being able to shoot an Evoker, accepting your shadow (personas are essentially tamed shadows) or standing up to your oppressor. Unless you have the ability to wield multiple personas. I guess using your persona in battle is like standing up for yourself, you're facing mind monsters with your 'true self'.

Similar to shadows, personas are monsters from various mythos (with of course the exception of Yamaoka which is an analysis for another day) but may have variations in appearance. For example, Loki, recently there has been two variations of Loki in one game, DLC of Persona 5's Loki and the typical Loki you would see in an SMT game. These show how a persona is definitely not like SMT demons and that personas/shadows can be interpreted differently between people. There have also been multiple cases of various characters sharing personas.

[divinekangaroo]

S1 teeters on overly dense but relatively entertaining, and despite the density of action/fact also feels quite shallow? Potentially the standardised plot/romantic expectation?

S2 by contrast feels like it doesn’t know what it is, but is way more entertaining.

Sabini (Noah Taylor) is utterly not my cup of tea and his Aussie-Italian accent should be cut from his mouth brutally because it’s awful; but S2 also sets up sooooo many good arcs for later on, and also contains a lot of truly hilarious moments (the glass of gin lolllll; a racehorse is a good investment lolllll, almost everything Tommy says to Campbell including calling him up about Grace’s booty call my God). I also wonder about Alfie and this fannish perception of his perceptiveness; from what I can remember of later series, and now this in S2, Alfie is nearly almost always losing total control of his business, and it’s Tommy that manages to somehow manoeuvre this self-destructive wildcard of a gangster into positions where they can mutually profit.

I feel, better than S1, S2 also shows the boundaries that Tommy consciously crosses and disrespects to get what he wants. The final ep pre-execution scene and his screaming at the sky was so honest, and even though he repeats these themes in later series as his motivation, in S2 I really believe it. He is fucking angry. S1 often felt like it was trying to sell him as a mostly good, petty criminal style man making the most of an opportunity gone complex and wrong; S2 clearly paints him as consciously choosing to abuse, albeit not entirely without sympathy/empathy, just not enough to change his path. And that scene in London where the brothers smash up a club, just the three of them, then go out after on the street absolutely high and bonded on the violence, uh the best. Let’s not forget that side of them, too.

I adore the thematic structure of that S2 final episode where Tommy fails all three of his women (four if you count Polly and that he had to let her sort it out herself).

I adore the emotional swings and roundabouts he has with Arthur’s suicide attempts, which also feels very, very real.

I felt that the sex scenes with May seem to have the camera focus on her orgasm/s, when pretty much every other sex scene in the series, the camera’s very focused on Tommy, and what that means in framing their brief and odd relationship.

I like Michael’s honest hunger for the life and the power.

I also find interesting that end of S1 had Danny (Flashback-Partner #1) die, and the start of S2 had Freddie (Flashback-Partner #2) die, and that all of S2 then has Tommy leveraging the good things war gave him — connections, colleagues, reputation, weaponry skills and tactical skills. He also says to Arthur that comment about ‘closing the door on the war’, which yes, starts to roar open again for Tommy in later series, but right now in S2 the war is almost put to bed for Tommy; part of that being S1 Grace let him see he could sleep/live without it for a bit, but I also think it has something to do with Freddie and Danny now both being deceased. The constant reminder of Danny’s volatility and Tommy’s sense of responsibility to him; the constant moral and ethical battle he had with Freddie about their mutual moral trauma, and Freddie’s constant quasi-suicidal language around Tommy (but putting the onus back on Tommy to execute him) suddenly gone.

In S1, what I carried away more of was character and symbolism rather than plot or theme. Polly hits Tommy around the head a lot, including once nearly with a poker; he allows it. In S2, he’s not allowing it any more. Tommy’s nearly monk-like at the start and there’s lots of symbolic monk references (eg, Monaghan means monk, red dust in Buddhism); in the whole of Episode 1 he doesn’t manage to get a single drink in; yet he’s human and vulnerable and drunk by S6. His white horse (his opportunity for balance against the black horse) and having to kill it himself because he did something not moral to win the horse, sacrificing his potential for balancing light and dark. The whole Monaghan Boy scam and how it’s structured to represent exactly how Tommy plays himself in scams (Tommy takes a hit/pays out so more people buy in; Tommy takes a bigger hit/pays out more so even more people buy in; then turn the tables and cash in when everyone’s gone all in).

Also I quantified the S1 guns in current day pounds:

Tommy’s original scam of four stolen motorbikes - about 50-60k in current day pounds

The value of the guns he finds - about 2.1 million current day pounds

Can totally picture him sitting in the yard staring at his unexpected loot just sweating bricks trying to work out how to turn it into actual money.

[kenobster]

For the ask game: 1, 2, & 10!

Your Pal's Star Wars Ask Game

OOOOH these are good ones, thanks anon!

1. Qui-Gon Jinn: love or hate? Discuss.

I very passionately could not care less. He's boring! I don't love or hate, I'm boooored. But that's a terrible answer, so let's go through every single Qui-Gon subject I could possibly have feelings on and describe why I don't.

(Oh boy this list became extremely rude but shit fam, I'm being asked my personal opinion lol. What else am I supposed to do?)

Phantom Menace? Meh. He's the mystical wise type... but Yoda does it better. He's the seemingly disciplined and empathetic role model/teacher, both as Anakin's male!parental figure and as a Padawan's Jedi Master, but... Obi-Wan does that better. He's a rebel, a rule breaker; he doesn't follow the Jedi code perfectly (and, as a result of George Lucas's whiteness, is a little bit racist), but... Anakin does that better worse. Apparently ppl were mad at him for using his final words to ask Obi-Wan to train the Boy, instead of saying "I love you" or something... but I snored through that scene until Obi-Wan's Sith-slaughter woke me up... so unfortunately I didn't hear any of that shit. 🤷‍♀️

Jude Watson? I skip his POV lol. No seriously, he's pretty boring, his internal conflicts are kinda kid-like, not very Jedi-Master-like, not even really very complicated or compelling. And maybe that'd be enough to hate him, but fandom's response to the series neutralizes my opinion in his defense. Re, first two books as an example, Qui-Gon was going about minding his own business when Yoda came along and tried to shove a child onto him -- him, a man who not only didn't want and wasn't ready for a new kid (after the old one became a freak), but also explicitly stated so to Yoda numerous times. Yoda did not take no for an answer. In fact, Yoda pretty much egged Obi-Wan on to pull the same guilt-tripping nonsense, despite Qui-Gon repeatedly saying to both of them stop, no, don't. And neither Yoda nor child listened. Luckily Obi-Wan grew on Qui-Gon so everything worked out in the end, but Qui-Gon didnt do shit wrong lol. It's not his fault Obi-Wan was being sent to the agricorp. It's not his fault Obi-Wan repeatedly disobeyed everyone's instructions and put himself into danger... or that Xanatos was a sadistic freak. And it's certainly not his fault that Yoda (in these books) lacked an understanding of consent and riled up an angsty Padawan into hoping falsely. The book may be boring af, especially Qui-Gon's character arc, but give the man a break, ffs. (And stop letting Tumblr gaslight you.)

Obi-Wan Kenobi show? Yeah Qui-Gon being someone his Padawan cried to abt his nightmares made Obi-Wan look suitably pathetic and sad, and I liked that a lot. But the second Qui-Gon appeared? Ugh. You just had to ruin Depressed!Obi-Wan for me, didn't ya? 🙄 I liked you better when you were playing hard to get.

Fanfiction? Ppl can do what they want and I support them. But I am tired of how Qui-Gon is either the villain or the saint and extremely two-dimensional. That's okay to have 2d characters! It really is! They serve a purpose! But this two-dimensional Jedi ain't for me. And honestly him being angelified is just as much of a dealbreaker to me as him being demonized. I like Messy. I like Trying Hard and Failing. I like Loving and Hurting and Hating and Loving. I like whatever Obi-Wan and Anakin got going on. Qui-Gon is boring and even worse, his presence in fic tends to make Obi-Wan into a two-dimensional victim, which drags Obi-Wan into boringville too. :(

Master and Apprentice by Claudia Gray? Hmm, actually, this was some good shit. Would read again. Take notes, kids. This be how you write a Qui-Gon.

Anyway this is how I feel, and I can't help how I feel. So go enjoy your mystical, potentially abusive wildcard in peace. I won't stop you! ^_^

2. Pick a Padme outfit to be your signature look.

This one all the fucking way (and the ROTS version of this hairstyle too):

If I were in Star Wars, I'd exclusively put my hair in a bow. Also, it looks really cute on Padme specifically.

10. If you could pull a George Lucas and sneak into Disney plus and edit any Star Wars scene, what changes would you make?

I answered this question on a whim earlier, but you know what? I absolutely stand by it. Make Palpatine caress Anakin's face as he injects our favorite nineteen-year-old boy with Unwanted Sexual Sithcraft. That is the only correct scene revision.

[xo-adeline]

hello i saw that your requests were open so i have one as a fellow genshin and bllk fangirl 😍

ik combining 2 fandoms sounds tough but pls i promise you’ll like it (i can’t actually promise that) but pls hear me out.

the type of vision bllk boys would have and why.

eg: snuffy: anemo, because he has a dead friend, or ness: electro, because he’s a simp. (i’m so sorry about the snuffy one.)

for the bllk boys im requesting, it’s quite a long list but if you think it’s too short you can cut it if you want!!

manshine trio (they’re my favourites), bachira, niko, barou, sae, rin, shidou, charles, kurona, hiori, our beloved mc isagi, kuni (pre or post wildcard, up to you), and german frat boy (you know who i mean.)

15 characters is a lot so it’s understandable if you wanna shorten the list or not take this request 😭😭 i just thought of it in the shower and thought maybe you’d like it since we’re both genshin and bllk fans but i hope you like this idea!!

OMG I love this so freaking much, and I have been thinking about it since I got it this morning and you are not ready for the ride I am about to take you on in my reasonings <3 (Also I ended up having no ideas for Barou so I did pre and post wild card Kunigami!!) (And yes, Kaiser's will be a whole tangent about him since I love him so much, and I am very deeply connected to that man, my blue dyed tip hair and blue rose tattoo will agree.)

Just because I felt like elaborating more on your ideas I'm gonna start with Snuffy and Ness<3 Marc Snuffy: Anemo - I mean firstly and most importantly he lost his best friend and that's a very big key component in Anemo, but also he continued to go and find a reason to keep living on (winning the major 5 european championships) Alexis Ness: Electro - Not only falling under being a simp, following the path of Sara and her devotion towards the Raiden Shogun, but being seen as abnormal by even his own family for liking the things that he likes (Magic). Reo Mikage: Geo - Working really hard to be able to play football/soccer even with the bumps in his way like his parents (more specifically his dad, as shown in Episode Nagi) trying to get him to work more on taking over the company, but yet he still works hard on his dream to becoming a pro athlete. Nagi Seishiro: Anemo or Cryo - Nagi is a little weird since he could follow down the Anemo path like Sayu, but he also has a lot of tendencies to be a potential Cryo. Having his internal conflicts during the second selection to be able to break apart from Reo to become stronger and be able to compete at a level that challenges him, but also his past (seen in Ep. Nagi) of his parents kinda leaving him and abandoning him. Chigiri Hyoma: Hydro - Having himself a moral code that he created for himself to follow when it comes to playing football/soccer, and even with his injury continuing to follow the path that he created for himself to become the best and help him in his upbringing to get back to the way he was with no fear and continue to be a 'chosen one' Bachira Meguru: Pyro - Being very passionate about the sport that he plays and wanting to always surpass himself and become better. Even trying new chemical reactions and trying new things to become better then he was before. Niko Ikki: Dendro - The knowledge of the field that he has through his eyes and the way he sees the field. It could be under the consideration of "hidden" knowledge as it isn't something the other team knows about until you figure it out yourself, and with that he has a risk for trying new things to be able to score and continue using the knowledge that he has to grow and eventually be able to beat people using it. Sae Itoshi: Hydro or Cryo - At first with his whole thing for not thinking he's good enough to become the best striker after his whole thing and Spain (and most likely something to do with Leonardo Luna) which then turns him into having an internal conflict and then brings to his change and changing his morals to be instead the best midfielder but still keeping that mindset of being the best in something. Rin Itoshi: Cryo - Itoshi family thing, yet again, another Cryo. He also has a big internal conflict, but with his brother, as he is the main reason why he is even playing the sport and why he is so keen on becoming the best, and by that he really just means beating his brother. He also has quite a few of the tendencies of Cryo characters from the game, as he does mostly distance himself from others and is really only seen talking to them when somebody else approaches him first. Shidou Ryusei: Pyro - Another person who is quite passionate (even sometimes a little too much *cough cough* U20 game *cough cough*, especially when he finds people that he likes playing with (ex Charles and Sae). It is a little hard just because we don't know anything about his past so I'm really just basing it on the way he acts! Charles Chevalier: Pyro - Same thing as Shidou, as we really don't know anything about his past it makes it a little harder. Though I would like to say he def gives Pyro energy, same boat as Hu Tao. He is very passionate when on the feild, and about the way he acts towards the things that he likes, which is being a pain in the ass contrarian.

Kurona Ranze: Electro(?) - This one was I think the hardest for me since there isn't a lot on Kurona, but I did try my best! I was thinking more electro as he is most likely seen as more abnormal as he tends to stay behind and help out other players (ex. Isagi) which is most likely uncommon for a place like Blue Lock, since it's all about opening an ego and making things for yourself. Though I can say much as, we have nothing for his backstory, and nothing much on his wiki!

Hirori Yo: Dendro or Cryo - Hiroi has already been known as somebody who has a lot of info when it comes to football/soccer, most likely due to his parents. Though when he first meets Isagi and Nanase he is seen giving quite a bit of information out which ends up helping them in the long run, so his knowlodge of the game very deeply resonates with the dendro element. Though the constant struggle of trying to find out if what he's doing is right follows him along the way. As it was his parents main thing to get him to play, so constantly wanting to not do it does follow him and makes him question things for sure about it.

Isagi Yoichi: Hydro or Geo - A man who has his principals in check, your honor. This man is pretty good at know what's right and what's wrong and can often be seen as the person being in the middle of fights (Ex. Nagi and Barou) and making sure that things don't get to crazy between them. Though he also has a good work ethic and is always trying to make himself stronger and wants to boost himself to the next level.

Kunigami (Pre WC): Hydro - He has a very good goal in life, well at least at the start of Blue Lock. Wanting to be like the hero's he saw on TV, but also wanting everything to be fair. He is constantly making sure (even from the first time we saw him) that everything is fair game, even if it wasn't strictly mentioned in the rules.

Kunigami (Post WC): Cryo or Electro - They never outwardly said it but something must have happened to that man in Wild Card that they are not telling us! So in short I have a feeling that he is dealing with something from the past that went on in there. Though another thing that would go with Electro is his views were most likely changed though the process of Wild Card. Nobody just flips a switch like that for no reason. So a bigger picture to this is that he was probably learning things about what he needed to do to become the best and staying on the path he was, wasn't going to get him there.

Michael Kaiser: Cryo - Ah yes.. Kaiser. Boy do I have a lot to say about you. (And that's on having a similar backstory<3) His whole egotistical personality most likely stems from his childhood (as most things do about people) More often then not do kid who have no attention on them as children end up living for that attention and praise as they get older, case in point Kaiser basically wanting to be the best striker and having a pretty good title of it, until you learn that he wants to move on and make his own name, which is most likely another sign of him trying to have the attention on himself, though it also stems from the abandonment he had a as child not only form his mother, but the abandonment of a father figure from his dad. Though the conflict start coming in when you see the drastic change when Isagi starts scoring goals and making many more problems for the name that Kaiser was creating for himself. Though with a loss of figures of parents that is only to be expected as the praise is no longer coming from other people, but instead just the person that he manipulated (Ness.)

Now obviously I can go on and on about this, but I won't, you've already had to read through the rest of my brainrot so I won't be saying anything else<3

[robjectionable-content]

So I've been thinking about something lately based on comments I have seen (here and elsewhere, by people with authority and people without) that tell people not to say or do certain things but then don't tell people what to say or do instead.

I think we can all agree that a hotel should allow you to open the door to your room. I think we can also agree that the hotel would be perfectly justified in not letting you use a crowbar to open the door to your room. So what happens when Crowbar Craig, who genuinely doesn't know how to open a hotel room door without using a crowbar, checks in to the hotel and tries to open the door to his room by using his crowbar?

Do you just tell him he isn't allowed to use the crowbar? If so, here's the thing:

In Crowbar Craig's head, by telling him he can't use his crowbar, you have reduced the number of ways he's allowed to open the door to 0.

"This action is legal but there are no legal ways of doing it" is a contradiction that essentially amounts to "This action is illegal".

Therefore, you telling Crowbar Craig he can't use his crowbar is no different to you telling him he can't open the door to his hotel room.

As established earlier, a hotel should allow you to open the door to your room.

Therefore, the hotel is wrong to forbid Crowbar Craig to open the door to his room.

Therefore, in Crowbar Craig's head, you are wrong to tell him not to use his crowbar.

Notice that at no point in that list did I even hint at the possibility of Crowbar Craig going away and investigating other ways of opening the door, such as using a key. That's because, as far as he's concerned, there's a perfectly good source of knowledge about appropriate ways of opening doors conveniently right in front of him - you, the person who told him not to use his crowbar. If he wants to know how he should open the door to his room, you are his best bet at finding out - way better than just going away and trying to work out the answer himself.

That's why Crowbar Craig will ask you "Well how else am I supposed to open this door?" How do you answer him?

Showing and/or telling him what he should do to get the door open (eg, "You should have been given a key. Put it in the lock and the door will unlock. Then turn the handle and push.") is the most beneficial way to answer from Crowbar Craig's perspective. By educating him on the proper procedure for opening his hotel room door, you solve his problem and arm him with the knowledge of how to solve that same problem in the future. Now that he knows the right way, he doesn't have a reason to keep doing it the wrong way (other than old habits dying hard). On the other hand, this may require more effort on your part, depending on how quickly Crowbar Craig can pick up on your teachings and how much he is actually willing to learn about new methods of opening doors as opposed to insisting that his crowbar should always be OK to use. The level of instruction he requires may be beyond what you can provide in that moment.

Pointing him at another source of that information - be that another person, the hotel's website, or even just the equivalent of "Google it" - is a bit of a wildcard. Maybe Crowbar Craig will get the information he needs from where you suggested he should, in which case, problem solved as if you had instructed him yourself, but with way less effort needed on your part. Maybe he'll try to find out what he needs to do but be unsuccessful, perhaps because he didn't understand what he was being told or because the source you told him to consult was unavailable. In that case, the problem remains as unsolved as ever and Crowbar Craig may or may not be more frustrated.

Maybe Crowbar Craig was wrong to assume that you knew what the right way of opening the door was. Just because you know one or more particular ways are wrong, doesn't necessarily mean you know which way is right. Telling him that you don't know what the right way is, only that it isn't using a crowbar, doesn't do much to help Crowbar Craig except let him know that he shouldn't bother asking you. Ideally, he would take this as his cue not to ask you again, but if he's adamant that you should know the right way to open the door, he might just get angrier at you for not being helpful.

Simply repeating what you just said ("Well how else am I supposed to open this door?" "Not by using your crowbar.") is a completely useless reply. You already made it clear to Crowbar Craig earlier that he can't use his crowbar. A reply like this provides no new information - nothing new about what the correct method is, nothing about where he can find out what it is, no reason for him to stop bothering you, nothing. There is simply no good reason to reply in such a manner.

Kicking him out of the hotel (whether you do it personally or call security) is the most reliable way of getting Crowbar Craig out of your hair while preventing damage to the hotel room door. It also sends the message that anyone who doesn't already know the right way to open the door to their hotel room is not welcome at the hotel in the first place. If that's the message you want everyone to hear, then this becomes the best way of dealing with Crowbar Craig. If you want potential guests to feel sure that you will actually help them with their problems, including problems with opening doors, doing this will give them the opposite impression.

Letting him use his crowbar, even if just this once, means going against the hotel's policy on not using crowbars, allowing the door to be damaged, and depriving Crowbar Craig of the knowledge he needs to open the door without using a crowbar. Plus, it sends the message that anyone is allowed to use a crowbar to get into their room - after all, Crowbar Craig's allowed to do it, and there's no reason why he should get special treatment. This may be the most convenient way for him to open the door to his room, but at what cost?

The thing is, most of those responses to the question "Well how else am I supposed to open this door?" work equally well as responses to witnessing Crowbar Craig sticking his crowbar in the door in the first place, and the ones that are more helpful to or convenient for him will leave him feeling less frustrated than if you (initially) just forbade him from using his crowbar and he demanded to know what he should be doing instead. Why didn't you just jump straight to one of those answers instead of just telling him to stop what he was doing?

Sure, you're not obligated to cater to Crowbar Craig's feelings, or to care about them at all, but there are gonna be people out there who a) will cater to his feelings, or at least appear to do so, and b) will tell him that he should be allowed to use his crowbar to open any door he wants and anyone who tells him he can't is just being an oppressive meanie. And, well, Crowbar Craig is gonna side with those who seem to care about him over those who seem to just want to get rid of him, regardless of which side is actually in the right.

Look, Crowbar Craig needs to learn to use a key instead of a crowbar to get into his hotel room - something he should have learned ages ago, maybe, but he didn't and here we are - and you can't expect him to figure it out on his own just from you going "Hey, you can't do that!"

Likewise, people whose only way of referring to concepts like, say, being torn between two courses of action uses slurs or dogwhistles are almost certainly not gonna figure out a better way to phrase it all on their own just because you told them they were using slurs and dogwhistles. Unless you provide some guidance beyond eliminating one or more wrong ways of doing things, at best, they just won't ever talk about those concepts again because they'll feel like they're not allowed to.

Be helpful to each other.