#honestly this is all Dana’s fault in a way

[sanyu-thewitch05]

Some of y’all in The Owl House fandom are for a better choice of words, very ignorant about curly, coily, and kinky hair.

Imma let y’all read through this foolishness. Yes, this is connected to the Luz redesigns I posted about.

Here are the 1st two pictures from the this tweet so y’all can see better.

Luz’s hair looks more the first second picture( the one with yellow shirt with what I think are black toucans). Here’s a chart on hair type for those of you who need it.

Luz’s hair falls around the 1A-1B range. Curly hair starts at 2B, Coily starts at 3A, Kinky starts at around 3C-4A. Honestly, if Luz put a flattening iron to her hair it wouldn’t look at different. I’m more ashamed that it came from someone who’s black and knows what curly hair looks like.

@thisismisogynoir

[lollytea]

Unfortunately due to TOH being cut short by Disney a lot of character arcs and more storyline could not be fully fleshed out and finished as Dana had to wrap up everybody’s story in just a few episodes

I'm fully aware that Disney's intervention is responsible for a lot of the plotlines getting suffocated. Which is why I don't think it's fair to go harassing crew members with "why didn't THIS happen??" and all that, because nobody really knows what they endured working on those final episodes and how much they had to cut and rewrite. But from things Dana has said, it was likely a very stressful and exhausting experience. So I don't like to make assumptions about the crew being incompetent. Nobody knows how the season WOULD have turned out if they had been granted full creative freedom and breathing room to develop it to their hearts content.

However, me not directing personal ire towards the crew doesn't mean that I think that the show is immune to criticism. Its flawed. It might not be entirely the crew's fault but that doesn't mean we can't talk about how it's flawed. If anything, I think acknowledging and dissecting its weaknesses is a good learning opportunity for what we should consider when creating our own stories.

Season 3 is a bit of a mess. There's good stuff. There's some less than good stuff. I think ultimately, as a story about Luz, King and Eda, it knocks it out of the park. When they were left with no other option, they decided to prioritize the writing of their three protagonists and I think that was the correct choice.

But I've been thinking about the three specials and how they stand on their own, quality wise, and honestly, there's valid criticism to be said that is completely unrelated to the shortening.

Bear in mind that the crew has known since Follies that the show was getting cut short and they needed to start wrapping up loose ends. So it's not like they started writing Thanks to Them believing it was the first of 20+ more episodes. They knew that they were going to be writing a 40 minute special. So the execution had to be tight, concise and satisfying, right?

Well...it was....weird. Definitely fun. Good for fan service. The main hook was the witch kids navigating the human world in their dorky witchy way. And initially, that was enough. But once the novelty of that wears off and we focus on the plot of the special, what do we have left?

Thanks to Them is very guilty of lore baiting. Dropping in stuff that they know damn well that they're never going to elaborate on, leaving the audience with a feeling of intrigue that is never going to be satiated.

I personally think that is just bad writing. They knew they didn't have a full season 3 and rather than rewrite the means of which the hexsquads finds answers, they still made the choice to drop in what are most likely vague ideas from the initial draft.

I think, if they had no intention of developing it in future specials, there was no point to that scene of Masha telling the Wittebane story. It was just...filler. To stretch out the running time. Which is....kind of precious. Only 40 minutes. If you're obsessive enough about lore, you already knew the story from the Hollow Mind paintings. That scene was for casual viewers. Which is useless, because there's no point in casual viewers learning about Evelyn and Caleb because it never went anywhere.

Also. I personally think that if there was any value to learning the Wittebane lore without making it plot relevant, it would be for the sake of character development. We wanted to know how the kids would react to this knowledge.

Well how did they react?

*Shrug* They seemed a little unnerved but they kinda forgot about it the second they got off the hayride.

So what was the point of all that? What was the point?

Is it because we wanted "Goodbye, Evelyn," to be more of gut punch?

Was it worth it? Was "Goodbye, Evelyn" worth it? We know fucking nothing about Evelyn.

I think the rebus was a stupid and lazy means for the kids to discover Titan's blood. You introduce this mysterious object that was hidden under the floorboards and then you just use it as a plot device.

When the kids uncover the rebus and find the secret code inside, the viewer is not thinking about how it can be used as a means to an end (finding blood) The viewer is thinking "what the fuck is that thing and how did it get there and how did Flapjack know it was there?"

Questions that will not be answered <333

ALL IM SAYING is that I'm sure the crew could have come up with another way for the kids to have a Titan's blood treasure hunt. Maybe they could have dug a little more into the history of Gravesfield and follow leads on weird things happening on this one spot in the graveyard (which turns out to be because there's magical energy there, revealed when Luz realizes she can use glyphs)

I just think that if you're gonna leave the mystery box a mystery, you shouldn't have included it.

And I know. Its subtle storytelling. There's elements of what could have been a far more complex story and they're leaving hints of it here and there.

Well the thing about that is I think the hints are very unsatisfying and weaken the episode's plot significantly.

Also I don't think they should get to just pick and choose what parts of the lore are subtle and what parts are ham-fisted.

YES we are going to be reminded like three times that Flapjack is being secretive and hiding things from Hunter.

NO we are never going to get a payoff for that because he gets shanked and dies first.

BUT!! BUT!! If you squint, its IMPLIED that Flapjack belonged to Evelyn and blah blah blah

You don't get to rub things in the audience face and then choose to be all subtle about it at the last minute. Pick one or the other.

Anyway....I think they could have written Thanks to Them as more of an intriguing and suspenseful horror mystery where they spend forty minutes gathering clues and everything finally clicks together at the very end. That's not what we got.

We got a very weak attempt on the Hexsquad's part to be little detectives, but like a minute of screen time was devoted to them dicking around in a library, a costume shop, and a zoo.

I don't think we can blame the shortening for this.

[nopejustnoped]

I‘m aware that im saying this about a character who already has more than enough content out there, but…jason would benefit so much from something that isnt part of an event or a mini thats set in the past (both inconsequent). Like there are 5838228 events and 3 issue stories with jasons dilemma in the foreground and even if they‘re well done and interesting they never matter. RHATO fucking sucked ass, but there are so many little things from that time that still influence jason stories. That ugly suit, his "i had a falling out with bruce :(" status quo and his relationship to his adoptive family.

Every writer wants to be the one to write theee jason story where he solves all of his issues, reconciles with bruce etc and they try to do that in elsewhere story #733737 or mini #172727 and it never sticks (considering what some of have written i say hallelujah).

What im trying to say is he needs an on going with an at least semi capable writer who doesnt try to turn him into dick grayson or the punisher. It has to start off with jason being a villain and i personally dgaf if it stays that way or he turns into a anti-hero etc. What i do care about is: it has to happen on panel, i need to see the developement. I dont mind him having fights with bruce and co, i dont ever see them cutting ties but rhato #25 cant be the status quo anymore…also no oblivious jason who has never considered the consequences of his actions. If he changes his mind about his ideology and methods it should be bc of convincing reasons (note: i dont ever see him not killing at all)

Honestly winick wrote a lot of that into uth and lost days (as in the starting point of my delulu RH on going) and if a writer could start from there without the oedipus complex id be grateful xoxo (id kill for jason to have talia as some kind of mentor to him without her getting the blame for his actions, imo they need interactions outside of lost days and uth #25 so people can finally stfu about that awful part in lost days). Theyd need to add characters who connect him back to the normal world like dana or sth, bring back rena and eddie for all i care. Him not being a person outside of the red hood holds him back (one of my least favorite prts of tfz was jasons identity being public).

He should fuck with bruces plans and all, he should be a nuisance (think that prince of gotham arc [another bs story but i think it couldve been interesting if you changed 85% of it] where hes mocking bruce)

A lot of these things have been attempted by scott lobdell but that man was a shit writer so…(also the n52 premise was absolute shit which was also lobdells fault).

[computersreen]

No but holy sh*t am I mad- IM ACTUALLY GONNA RANT ABOUT IT-

I can't believe Disney cut this short just because it has this representation- which

BY THE WAY IS WELL AND BEAUTIFULLY SHOWN-

That barley gets ANY attention or representation AT ALL in kid's shows

WE COULD HAVE LEARNT SO MUCH- SO MANY THINGS ABOUT- I DUNNO LEMME MAKE A LIST

1. The rest of the coven leaders

2. Perhaps more about Belos and his past- as Philip

3. Probably more about Amity's family n stuff

4. Luz learning more spells ( yes, I actually believe Luz could learn more about magic using glyphs and stuff)

5. More about the coven magic- for example, the way how people that do the illusion routs (I'm guessing all students who learn it) can like- see other people's memories and stuff. Like- I wanna see more with healing, potion and the oracle- and so on! I just think we could've seen more about the magic within. Like- how maybe amity can do all that abomination jazz like Darius does!

6.speaking of Darius- MAYBE A MOMENT OF HUNTER SEEING HIM AS A FATHER FIGURE???

7. In case you forgot- Luz having a Palismen? Like- I'm not sure if we're seeing it in season 3 but-

I could go on and on-

Apparently Disney couldn't do it just cuz of gay little kids!

Just cuz of some beautiful representation!

I feel like Dana and the crew we're disappointed and- probably overwhelmed due to trying to fit as much as they can in like- 20 mins each episodes!

And they wanted to make this for so long!

I'm actually PISSED

Honestly- I actually liked watching Disney as a kid but- Disney actually got me pissed at THIS-

I watched amphibia and the show is great by the way and I'm so happy that Sasha is a bi!

Like- you f*CKING go queen!

Me and my sister we're thinking that- what if Matt Braly wanted to show more about Sasha being a bisexual?

I think they we're smart about it putting it right in the finale but- I'm just thinking about cuz even if they did add more of Sasha being a bisexual, Disney would straight up be like- " haha f*ck you, I'm gonna cut the paper short! ". Unless Sasha found out that she was bisexual as she got older- now that's a different story.

Congratulations to amphibia.

Back to the owl house. The show's great, amazing, beautiful- all the positives- Dana, we love you- thank you so much. But when seeing the episodes- when it god like- the Intense scenes where you see alot of like- important bits- the Intense important bits-? It just- Snap! There it goes, it just goes so quickly it gives me so little time to see more of one scene until it gets to the other and so on. It hurts to see that- like imagine if Disney didn't f*ck up and left the episodes as it usually was gonna be- imagine getting longer scenes instead of it flashing to one another for like 1 min or sumn. I think it would've been more- lively. I'm absolutely not blaming Dana and the crew for this, it's Disney at fault, like, I'd cartoon network can allow space rocks be gay, a Princess made out of gum and a vampire queen to be lovey dovey, or when DreamWorks allows a well built women and a cat-girl be together and so on- WHY CANT DISNEY? Is it that hard, Disney???

(I'm not sure if Pixar allowed anything gay- let me know if they did)

Shout out to Steven universe, adventure time, She-Ra, kipo and other shows adding LGBTQ rep.

I might be done ranting so hard I'm not normally the type of person to get mad- it's just that- I watched Disney as a kid and loved it- but as I grew up and become a better person- (and a little gay) and getting this show right when it gets- almost ruined actually- IM F*CKING SETTING A BUILDING ON FIRE!

Sorry for the negativity and all- but alot of people we're doing it so I was like ' can I also release some of my anger with you? ' and boom! Ya get this FAT LONG MESSAGE!

Disney do better!

[road2nf]

Now I try to make my writing mean something

The Nerdfighter community has affected me by showing that anything is possible. If you have the ambition and resources, you can truly do anything that you set your mind to.

For years, I would come up with ideas and then think about how I would never do it or succeed in doing it. I discovered the videos and community about a year ago, and I can honestly say that it has changed my outlook on the world and my own life.

Thank you for all the things that you two have done to create such a wonderful community.

-Dana (asphodellovely.tumblr)

________________________________________________________

‘John and Hank Green’.

A few short months ago, those names had no meaning to me. “I think John Green might be that one guy that I always see on tumblr with sharpie on his face. I guess Hank would be his brother.”

It’s amazing how much two guys I’ve never met in person can affect my life so greatly. I’ve always wanted to be a writer and John has given me the inspiration to write not just for fun, but to decrease world suck.

Now I try to make my writing mean something.

Hank has broadened my horizons so much.

His work with SciShow and Crash Course and all his other channels have showed me that there is so much more to learning. He’s showed me some of the different ways a person can express themselves.

I am forever thankful I decided to read The Fault in Our Stars, and that I was so enamored with the writing style and the meaning within such a beautiful sorry, I decided to read every John Green book he’s ever written. In this way I’ve found the Nerdfighters, who have forever changed my life for the better. DFTBA

-Siara (Hungerlames.tumblr)

[luonnon-varainen]

!!TOH FINALE SPOILERS!!

A small one, but still go and watch it it's soo good

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Honestly, I think the finale was great. Amazing animation, voice acting was fantastic, ending was sooo cute, Kings dad is the best "boi", all characters have those gorgeous expression. Even fact it was a little bit to rushed, because tfu-tfu- Disney's politics and I won't forgive them this mistake, doesn't bothered me at all and whole story was entertaining, engrossing and smooth. My only two issues were lack of personal/deeper backstory of Philip and Collector's arch ending.

While in the first one there is nothing to do about it, just not enough time for the flashbacks. Even with King's dad possibility of using cubes to show it, just animators and Dana couldn't put it in 55 minutes of very condensed episod with a lot of archs to finish.

The Collector's arch could work out well, if it was a possibility of adding one maybe two sentences. Whole issue in their arch is that they go back to the stars(supposing to the Archivists) and them being "alone" again(my opinion). What they was learning during this episode was how to be kind and forgive others. And I didn't noticed anybody in entire show who could be reason for Collector's not-forgiving trait/did something to Collector and they feel angry with so badly they can't forgive them besides their siblings, who betrayed Collector in the past. So probably this part of their lesson was inclined to their relationship with own kind. We saw Collector being scared, mad and sad with the Archivists actions and lies, but only this. It doesn't give any information about their relationship, only about one very specific situation. If in Collector's short retrospection about their past was sentence like: "I loved my siblings, they always played with me games I chose and cared about me, but they lied to me and used me(rest of their story) " whole ending would make sense. They learnt with Luz, King and Eda about forgiving others, even when they did something horrible. It would make Collector rethinks their relationship with the Archivists and chooses to try work things out with them - going back to the stars. And when Collector would be with their family, they could learn them about mortality(maybe all collectors don't understand idea of dying and that's why they just do collecting in such a nasty way and uses force when sb doesn't obey them - how could they know they can't regain someone's personality(a lofe of the brain) after the death, if they didn't experience it or can recreate, but only in own specie) and kindness. It all would make sense and erase both loneliness issue and going back to the stars issue. Honestly I wanted sth like this as the Collector's arch end, but yeah just one more sentence and it would be perfect for me.

This comment is not meant to blame Dana, animators, storyboarders or anybody from The Owl House crew that they did something wrong. As I said before not their fault, that Disney "stabbed them in the backs" and forces them to condense such a great and complex story in such a small amount of time. I just feel a little bit dissatisfied with this two arch and this is my idea to make them satisfying, if I had anything to say. But I don't.

I'm glad with what I've got and really appreciate impact of the owl house on media and me💛

[theanticool]

Since Dana has already made up his mind about what happens at WW. How do you see Shavkat vs Belal going?

Honest to god no idea.

Belal is one of my favorite fighters right now, solely because he's so damn good at gameplanning and is honestly the most versatile fighter at welterweight. He can wrestle, he can kickbox. He's good on the inside, good on the outside, good on the front foot, and good on the backfoot. He's able to move laterally both to evade offense and to cut off the cage. He's got more depth in some aspects of these approaches than in others but he can implement any of these into a winning gamplan. He does the #1 thing you want to see a fighter do - when you find something that works, do it until it doesn't.

But he's lacking any of the 3 qualities you need to be champion - raw athleticism, size and power. You can get there with just one of these but he lacks both. He's not a big dude for 170. He doesn't hit all that hard despite the recent TKO finish of Sean Brady. And he's not going to be faster than most guys you put him in there with. It's what happened against Leon Edwards - he got stuck out at kicking range and spent that first round getting tagged trying to box his way to the center of the cage.

For all of Shavkat's faults, the guyhas the size, the power, speed and the finishing ability. And it's not like he can't be a slick operator on the feet when given the space. Can Belal beat a guy who he won't have a clear advantage in the clinch? Who he might not be able to takedown? Who, unlike Sean Brady, will be willing to exchange with him in a firefight to keep his positioning or try to capitalize on openings? But that goes for Shavkat as well. The only guy to have ever finished Belal is arguably the hardest puncher in the division's history - can Shavkat win a decision if he has to go into deep waters with a guy like Belal who only fights smarter as the fight goes on?

If Colby (WACK) is really next for Edwards, Belal vs Shavkat is one of the best fights welterweight has to offer imo.

[night-rise]

RANT!

(Do not read if easily offended. These are just my own personal thoughts and experiences and don’t even come CLOSE to speaking for the rest of the fandom.)

I am honestly ready for this series to end.

I have been WAY too hooked on this show, and have spent way too long hoping for certain outcomes to happen in the series only for disappointment to hit me every single time.

With the series end I can move on in peace.

Don’t get me wrong, I really do love this show. From its characters, to its story, to its visuals, to its fandom.

However even though I do love this series they’re were SOOO many plot points I personally was holding out for!

Lilith and Amity never formed a mother/daughter bond like Eda and Luz. This was MY “Lumity” moment. This is what I wanted out of EVERYTHING in this series. Since episode 5 this was literally all I needed. I am beyond disappointed my two favorite characters never had a chance to become close and have Eda and Luz adventures. If this would have happened I wouldn’t even CARE about everything else, I would’ve been too happy to notice the other plot points. (Lumity fans can relate to that a bit lol)

Amity’s story was not as great as it could have been. Meaning at times her development and story was at times, blain and or rushed. More side story than main story. Her story didn’t get involved with the overall situation plot points at all. Very disappointed about that. She became more of the lead sidekick/ girl next door, than a key player. Everything Hunter is I wish Amity was.

No Eda and Lilith vs Belos fight. I was really hoping for that one at least and am not holding my breath for season 3 due to it being so short. But who knows.

Eda and Lilith didn’t talk more about the curse. Lilith’s redemption arc was a lot shorter than I hoped it would have been.

Not enough of Hunter being a villain. I was really hoping for more Golden Guard mayhem and battles. Specifically with his artificial magic staff. But this could have been due to shortness on time.

Not enough Eda and Luz mentorship/training/bonding. Most of everything Luz learned she learned from school or on her own. I would’ve loved more focused screen time just on Eda and Luz alone.

And finally, the Day of Unity. Belos needed this screen time. That should have been his episode ALONE. His moment to shine. But he kind of got overshadowed with the Collector taking over and him struggling against CHILDREN. I was looking forward to this guy soloing EVERYBODY. This guy was praised by witches for generations, and has been built up for so long, and to see him go out like that was definitely disappointing. I know he’s not “dead”. But he’s pretty much nothing at this point. He’s probably going to posses Hunter or something and Hunter will have to gain control over himself or something. Overall, Belos is no longer the main problem. I blame Disney for this one. If there was more time, Dana could have made the Day of Unity ALOT more intense.

Maybe it’s my fault. My expectations were too darn high for this series. That’s why my disappointment.

My overall mind was always on Episode 5, Convention. My all time favorite episode.

It was perfect. It had everything. Literally everything. Awesome character introduction. Character development. Hint of a romance. Rivalries left and right. Amity being involved with the main plot by being introduced as Lilith’s apprentice, the woman who is working for the enemy. Eda and Luz having hilarious and heart felt moments.

It was literally the perfect episode and it was only the 5th out of the series.

I was hoping for more episodes like that. And we definitely got some here and there, but not to the level I was hoping it would reach moving on to new season 2.

Anyway, like I said I am ready for the series to end. It was a fun ride, and I will remember these characters for literally the rest of my life.

Moving forward from here though, I’m keeping expectations down and will just enjoy whatever happens next. No theories, no expectations. Just enjoying the Owl Gang while I have them.

[incoherentbabblings]

Given how Dana and Jack were aware that Steph had a baby do you think it was Steph or Tim who told them?

Ooooooooo! Good question, good question! I wrote a fic where Jack essentially found out himself, all part of the 'my son is lying to me constantly' schtick, but he didn't actually care about Steph's pregnancy itself, just how in relation to it being another thing Tim hides from his parents.

In canon? Wooft. If we use her conversation with Cass as precedent, then if Stephanie did tell Jack and Dana it would have been very blase. Maybe Jack and Dana think wooft but also that's none of my business? and thank goodness it was a closed adoption?

If Tim had told them it would have been much more serious. Would he have said the baby was why he returned to Gotham whilst they were in Keystone? Would he have explained that he took her to lamaze classes? That he only found out a week after they started dating? That they've been dating for nearly a year before he decided to introduce her? The baby just opens up a can of worms that answers nothing and just creates more questions.

Tangentially related, I think Jack would have been relatively fine with it, Dana less so. Neither would verbally disapprove, but we know Dana thinks of it more often.

Like, to give Jack like the absolute basic lowest bar possible of credit, he did not seem particularly convinced by Dana's slightly 'if she has baby she a dirty person' line of thinking in Robin #124

Robin (1993) #124 "Do you think it's that girl, Stephanie, he likes? She had a child out of wedlock - while she was still a kid herself. Is she a bad influence? "Could be. I suppose." "She's so wordly and Tim's so - not. He's such a trusting innocent boy, she could be luring him into all kids of mischief. Jack, do you think Tim's still a virign?"

These lines from Dana are so cringe they make me want to melt into the ground. Not only due to the fact that she acknowledges that Stephanie was a child when she got pregnant and yet calls her a bad influence and saying it was out of wedlock (of course it was out of wedlock she was FIFTEEN Dana); not only due to the fact that she clearly has no clue who Tim actually is and is just rattling off aspects of his personality which are built on lies; not only due to the invasive way of pondering a teenager's sex life... but it's just the way she's trying to pass the blame onto someone else. Like oh no, it couldn't be Tim, the girl has lead him astray as if he isn't making his own decisions and Stephanie is literally shown on the next page unable to get him to make out with her on a park bench.

Robin (1993) #124 "Ooh, look. A park bench. We could get into some inspired public nacking, which I've dearly missed doing for far too many days now." "Sorry, Steph. I guess I'm just not in the mood today."

Oh yeah. Really leading him astray there. Like what influence does this girl hold over Tim? Cause it ain't the power of female wiles I can say that much. He's too busy angsting about the rotting guy's head he punched off the other night. Idk. Reads very much like one of those mum's who complain about their son's lives being ruined because of the 'actions' of a young woman. Boys will be boys etc., etc. Like Dana was better than Jack perhaps, but she still is not a good parent at all.

Point is, Jack's response is not exactly jumping on the same bandwagon. Doesn't strike me as the kind of guy who'll jump straight to 'it's the bloody woman's fault', it's just kind of humouring Dana.

So... I think, to be fair to Jack, whomever told him, he wouldn't have minded so much. 'Accidents happen!' (Yikes). But I also think Tim is more likely to have told his parents. I don't even think it's something they would have done together as a pair. Honestly, I think Stephanie avoids the subject like the plague for a reason, and Tim wants to be the one to speak for her and protect her from judgement if need be. But that's just my headcanon!

[stucknthemiddleff]

Lethal 1.12

Dana

Two Months Later

June•

Tipping my cup up of what was the last drop in it, my eyes closed briefly. The TV was on but I didn't watch it, feeling the dark liquor make my frontal lobe even more fuzzy. By then I was finally where I wanted to be, and needed no more I had reached my limit. A smile came to crack on my lips, as I let out a small laugh in my dark room. Rubbing down my numb face I decided to go downstairs and get something to snack on. My phone began to ring as I stood out of my bed, and I picked it up to see Cari's name flash across the screen. I had sent her a crazy text message like ten minutes ago, and knew that was probably why she was calling. Knowing I probably wasn't going to actually listen only hear what she said, I answered making my way out my room.

Getting to the stairs I started down the first one they looked longer than usual, "Yes Cari?"

"Dana, are you fucking drinking?" She asked me, in an almost growl. I desperately tried to hide my laugh but failed.

"Maybe." I chuckled almost tripping on a stair, it made me laugh harder.

"Dana! This isn't funny. I knew I shouldn't have left you home." She snarled like she was my damn mother or some shit. Did she think this Friday night would be any different? Not like her ass was staying home to drink with me.

"Cari, I mean you do have a life, and a fucking boyfriend that you enjoy fucking. So don't hold out on your fun on my account babe." I told her and heard her do a loud groan.

"Whoa." I heard a male voice speak, and figured it was Bryson. Oops....Not. Why the hell

would she have me on speakerphone anyways?

"I'm on my way home!" She yelled, before hanging up the line. Like shit was my fault, was it my fault though? Was I hurting anybody? No I wasn't, I was in the comfort of an apartment that I didn't even want to be in anymore. But I fought it knowing Cari would be heartbroken if I left. I didn't binge drink during the week when I went to work, I sucked all that shit up that I was going through. So when Friday hits, I could drink as much as I want till Sunday and not give a damn what came out of my mouth. For the past two months that's what it's been with me and I couldn't give a damn what Cari thought, this was my way of dealing with how I felt and she should respect it. I mean not like I haven't done this bullshit before.

Grabbing some doritos out the pantry I opened the spicy nacho flavored chips and ate one, "Could be on crack or trying to run through traffic on the fucking highway."

Going through heartbreak once when you gave your all was hell, but going through it twice made me feel like I wanted to die. I thought about it a few times, suicide that is, but wouldn't give in to the devil that easily. It had been a while since going to church and all I did was pray when I wasn't drinking. Trying to remain strong, but when I needed an escape from the thoughts the liq helped. It was what I leaned on briefly, and wasn't ashamed of it. I was only human, and my heart and soul was torn, there was no way else to describe the pain. Going back upstairs I sat in the middle of my bed, watching my TV in my dark room, with the same routine of not watching it. Sixty days, and not a word from him, Cari and Cooper were clueless as they say not knowing why he left so abruptly but was used to Calen being in and out of their life. Cari tried to tell me it might be with his condition of being bipolar but I knew that was bullshit. Somewhere in her heart I knew she felt guilty of egging on me giving Calen a shot in my life. Honestly I didn't care anymore, felt nothing but like an emotionless wreck. He got what he wanted and bounced, just like a nigga would do. The sick part is, as many times as I tried to take off his necklace and throw it away I couldn't. Every time I tried I broke down crying, I was done crying though, but he left an imprint on me in every way in less than two weeks. I wanted to let go, but I hadn't yet. It was like the same shit with Erin all over again, only more painful. Because I believed him in telling me he wouldn't do what she did. There was a small piece of me that didn't want to believe the things he said, he just sounded off the night we last talked on the phone. Probably the real reason why I couldn't take off his damn chain. I could hear commotion downstairs about fifteen minutes later, letting me know Cari was home. Ten seconds later she was standing at my doorway, switching on my bedroom light. Her grey and light green eyes looked me over, a look of sadness and disgust on her face.

Walking more in my room she crossed her arms over her chest, "Dana, this has to stop!"

"Or what!? You're going to kick me out of your paid off apartment? Do it, just say the word I'll leave and go live with my mom!" I yelled back at her looking away. Silence filled the room and I could see out the corner of my right eye, she came and sat on my bed.

Taking a deep sigh she said, "Dae baby, I don't want you to leave, I just want you to get better and I don't know what to do."

"I know this is worse than my time after Erin." I mumbled looking up at her worried face, "But I'm okay."

"My tone on the phone, I apologize, just want you to know how worried I am about you." She looked down at my bed. Reaching my hand out to hers, I took it having her squeeze my palm softly.

I did a small smile, "Promise I will be okay, I've done it before."

"Dana, I could see his love for you everyone could I just-" She started but I halted her words by raising my free hand in the air, not wanting to hear anymore.

"If he loved me he would be here right?" I asked looking into her eyes, and she did a low sigh with a nod of her head.

I bit inside my jaw placing my hand back down in my lap, "Tomorrow we should just go shopping or something, I'm not going anywhere, we're going to have a good summer dammit!"

Cari smiled at me standing up from my bed, "Yes!"

Crossing my arms over my chest I smiled back at her, giving it my all to. Leaning back down on my bed she gave me a big hug, "Goodnight."

"Night." I replied giving her torso a good squeeze before letting go. Watching her exit my room as she turned out my light, I held my smile. Upon hearing her go to her room closing her door, the darkness crept up on me again and my smile slowly faded. Laying on my belly, I looked underneath my bed for my bottle of Henn. Sitting back up I grabbed my plastic red cup off of my bedside dresser, filling my cup halfway. Unlocking my phone I went on my apple music app, straight to my Adele playlist. Letting the somber tunes drift me away as I sipped from my cup for the rest of the night.

~

Arm in arm linked, Cari had eventually dragged me out of my bed around one thirty-ish to go walk around the mall. As usual on a late Saturday afternoon the mall was packed. Not really seeing anything I wanted to buy, I just let Cari distract me in asking opinions on different stuff. Every so often I would see all different type of couples holding hands and what not. Whether they were older or younger, it pinched my heart just the same. But I fought to stay strong and convince Cari that I was alright, when it was the total opposite. It had been about forty five minutes since being in this packed place, and I was honestly ready to just get out. Heading to the food court, I went and sat at a table while Cari went to the bathroom having me babysit her bags. She bought me a few pieces from Victoria's Secret, making me cringe in remembering the last time the store was topic of discussion for me. I don't know why she even bothered, who was I going to impress with the barely threaded thongs anyways. NO ONE. While sitting at the table just looking at the time on my phone, a group of people walked by making me look up. They were all guys and one looked like the guy that broke me, at first my heart fell in my stomach until I realized it wasn't him. The guy made eye contact with me and cracked a smile. It was nothing like the one I fell in love with, I just looked away back to my phone. As the guys moved on I took a deep breath trying to keep myself under control closing my eyes.

There was a hand tapping on the table I sat at, opening my eyes seeing Cari I relaxed a bit, "You okay? Want some food before we leave?"

"Nah, I'm good. Let's go." I breathed standing to my feet, and we left.

~

Taking the bags in from the mall once me made it home, no one other than Cooper sat on the couch watching TV. I sized him before going in the kitchen to get some water, it was so hot outside. Made me regret not at least getting a lemonade before leaving out the mall. Summer was truly here on full force.

Cari went and sat on the opposite couch from him softly she spoke, "Hey Coop, any word from him?"

Clenching my jaw I grabbed a water bottle unscrewing the cap to take a swig, "Cari."

"What?" She asked as I drunk some of my water, I swallowed quickly feeling the water cool me.

"You always ask him this, he doesn't know anything. Calen just left okay." I spoke walking out the kitchen, she did this every time Cooper came over. Like damn, we always got the same out of him, why would this weekend be any different. Remaining silent, Cooper looked up at me with a weird expression analyzing me, like it was the complete opposite.

"Dana, I have the right to know about my brother okay?" She replied in an annoyed tone, I could feel her glaring at me. But Cooper and I kept strong eye contact, then he looked away putting his eyes on Cari.

"Car, he's alright just taking care of stuff in VA." He finally answered, but it was off. Was he lying?

"Well is he coming back?" She asked him, and he shrugged his shoulders.

Looking at the TV he leaned back on the couch, "Hell if I know."

Something is up or am I going crazy here, that was different.

~

Calen

The large dim area space of the building full of smoke and slow moving bodies surrounded me. In the most exclusive nightclub of Miami, I made my way to the VIP section with the guide of a thick and over six foot five security, awaiting for when I would get the chance to do as planned in this strip club. Another guy matching my escort unhooked the thick red suede looking fabric for me to walk through. With a nod he addressed us, I wasn't sure if he was really looking at us through his sunglasses though.

Placing his hand to his ear piece, my escort slowly turned towards me, I saw his name was Dominic by the name stitched in white on his black shirt, "Mr Ruiz will be with you soon Sir Rodriguez, if you would care to wait here for the time being."

I nodded making my way to the nostalgic bright red couch that I sat on numerous times before, "Thank you Dominic, I don't mind."

"We have accommodations during your wait." He informed, getting another head nod from me he eventually disappeared into the packed bodies of the dance floor of the club. Leaning back on the couch, I took a deep breath trying to ignore the memories of being in this club from my late teens. On cue, a sparkling champagne bottle made its way towards me, along with a familiar face. Showing her deep dimples in her cheeks, in a slim skin tight light emerald green dress, the young beauty made her way to me. A song by Future began to play, coincidentally a song that she made me memorize because she would dance to during our own private sessions.

Lookin Exotic.

Why wouldn't she not know I was here, I was her favorite every time, even though she was a personal favorite of the club and only dealt with the fattest pockets that walked in this spot. The security guard at the VIP ropes let her through. Placing down the champagne on the table as it settled into a sizzle, she came and sat next to me.

Licking over her full lips she smiled at me with pearly teeth, "Long time no see Calen, you going to give me a hug?"

"Of course Dawn, how you been?" I asked as she moved closer embracing me in a hug, smelling like a very sweet fragrance. Her hands clenched me tightly, in a more than friendly type hug. Ignoring it I looked into her light brown eyes that sparkled in the dim club. Her name inside the club was Tootsie, but with knowing her so well we eventually got on first name basis.

Not bothering to move back in her previous spot, she spoke in my ear softly, "I've been good, I didn't think I would see you come through anymore."

"Yeah, well you can't work all the time." I told her speaking back in her ear since the music was so loud in the club.

"I know that's right, not like you can't take plenty of time off, as hard as you go in. You look good as usual though, getting more manly by the years." She commented with a quick chuckle. I met Dawn at only eighteen with her being two years older than me and this club was the first for me knowing what the club experience was like. The only reason we really knew each so well was only because she was the step-daughter of the owner of the club I planned on meeting. Five years had came and gone yet she still was bad as ever.

Maybe if she hadn't been a bottle service girl something between us could have unfolded. I wasn't cool with every nigga getting to see such much of my girl, I was very stingy when it came to that.

I smiled at her, "Thank you, but I see you doing your thing too ma."

"Pshh, to be honest this is just something for the weekends, I run my own beauty salon." She told me with another smile.

"That's wassup Dawn, proud to hear that." I told her genuinely. It was good to know that she wasn't just having her ass on display fully being a bottle service girl to pay her bills, baby was on the come up making me proud. It always threw me off that her step father had her working in his club freely, but everyone had to get their money some way.

"Thanks, I honestly been thinking about you to keep me motivated. I know first hand running a business is not easy." She confessed, shocking me completely, I was taken off guard by her words.

"I'm glad I can be that inspiration for you, real talk." I nodded, shaking off my shock at what she just told me.

"Yeah, how long you in Miami for?" She asked looking me up and down, "Do you want a glass?" She asked maneuvering her hands to the champagne. This is how it always started, with her giving me glass after glass of the champagne, then a private dance for the free, just to try to come home with me. I had always declined, and tonight I was only on one mission.

If I wasn't in love maybe I would have took her up on her offer tonight. Mostly because it's been a while since a nigga got some pussy, but none of that mattered right now.

"No thank you ma, just waiting on Ruiz." I told her, with the flashing lights in the club I could see a little disappointment on her milk chocolate brown complexion. She nodded standing giving me a kiss on my cheek. It was the first time since getting jumped, that I had someone actually have a decent conversation and couldn't just let her walk away. Dawn was a good friend and I appreciated her company as always.

"It was good seeing you again Calen." She smiled turning to walk off but I stopped her, grabbing her wrist. Her brows furrowed in confusion looking down at me. Looking up at her I went in my pockets, feeling the stack of hundreds I placed there just for when I would run into her.

Placing the stack in her hand of at least eighty five Benjamin's in a money clip, I pulled her closer so she could bend down to talk in her ear, "Expand that business you got ma, and tell Ruiz I'm ready for him."

Leaning back up Dawn gave me the most lustrous glare licking over her bottom lip like she wanted to take me down right here in VIP, "I got you baby."

~

About ten minutes later I was being led into the main office, of the club. It overlooked the entire vicinity of the building. Walking in I saw deep security in all parameters of the huge office.

Turning to face me a big smile was plastered on his olive tan face, "Well if it isn't the infamous Calen Rodriguez in my club!"

"How you doing Zeus?" I asked walking up around his desk to hug him, he gave my arms a tight squeeze before letting me go analyzing me up and down.

Taking a puff of his cigar he did a throaty chuckle, "Mi sobrino look at you! Getting old, no?"

Zeus was Cassie's older brother, that I met when I couldn't remember at the tender age of four, ever since then he's been in my life. I thanked the heavens that Dawn and I weren't nowhere blood related to be cousins, because it would be awkward as fuck. Especially since I didn't know Cassie was her aunt until after we met in the club one night.

"Nah, just seasoned." I did a quick chuckle, knowing it's been a year and a half in seeing him. Blowing smoke away from my face he nodded dropping his hands down to his sides.

Zeus raised his bushy eyebrows with a deep smile, "Nothing wrong with that Calen, sit please sit, want a drink?"

"I'm fine, thank you though." I nodded going to sit in one of the plush seats that sat in front of his huge desk.

"I wish I had of made sure to clean this place up a little bit more for you, damn its been so long!" He exclaimed plopping down in his office chair that matched the mahogany brown color of his desk.

I waved my hand at him once, "It is no need for that, honestly, it's good seeing you though man."

"Of course, of course Calen." He blinked at me, "When the last time you talked to your mother?"

"About two months." I admitted and he nodded at me once taking another puff of his cigar.

"It's important to stay in contact with your madre' young man, because once she's gone she's gone." He advised me with a serious tone, blowing smoke out his mouth quickly and I nodded keeping eyes contact with his dark brown ones.

I chuckled looking down at my lap, "I would know wouldn't I?"

"Si, you would." Zeus agreed with me, lowering his eyes to a squint at me, taking another pull of his cigar.

"Yeah, how's life?" I asked him, he shrugged sitting back in his seat.

"Well shit, I've been wondering since my secretary Ivan, told me that Calen Rodriguez was in my club, if the shit is about to hit the fan." He told me, and I smiled shaking my head looking back at him.

"Seriously Zeus?" I chuckled as he kept a serious facial expression.

He put out his cigar in the glass clear ashtray on his desk, "Yes sir, I am serious, I get no heads up from you...so I ask Calen. No Bullshit."

Staring him down I looked around his office seeing his security gripping their guns a little more tighter. Turning my head back to Zeus, he had his hands put together under his chin staring dead in my eyes.

Blinking once he leaned forward a little, "Mi joven sobrino, ¿por qué estás aquí realmente?"

Looking him over, I leaned back in my chair deciding to tell him what I needed of him, "I need the heat Zeus."

Leaning back in his chair after my words, he looked around his office, a skinny Caucasian guy in a dark grey suit, I began to notice stood off in the distance I assumed was Ivan, "Well there goes my fuckin' week!"

"Zeus." I mumbled looking at him, and he sat back up in his seat giving me his full attention, "Everything you have."

Sparking back up his cigar Zeus stared deeply in my eyes, "Back to that life again Calen?"

"No, it's just a small problem I need to take care of." I told him and he nodded.

Blowing smoke he pursed his lips, "Is this over a woman?"

"Not entirely." I smiled and he began to laugh.

"You lying son of a bitch." He yelled, "Don't tell your mother I called you that."

"I won't." I smiled at him.

"You do something for me, I do something for you understand?" He told me standing back up out his chair.

"Anything." I crossed my hands into my lap.

"Everyone out now!" He yelled, immediately his security exited out the office, "Calen come here."

Standing to my feet I walked over to him as he turned and looked out over the two seeing glass, as bodies danced back and forth in the view before us.

"My step daughter has been faithful in the moment that I agreed to let her work in this club, of an agreement we made almost six years ago." He told me, referring to Dawn.

"I've watched as so many men left and right lust after her, knowing she never had made attempt to have a boyfriend or husband." He continued, "But I saw years ago how much she is in love with you."

Swallowing, I trailed my eyes over to Dawn working the floor with a sparkling bottle of champagne on a tray in her hands.

Zeus took a deep sigh looking over at me, "Do you know what I'm asking of you Calen?"

"Yes sir." I mumbled, making eye contact with him.

"Just one night, and all my hardware that I have will be in your hands for disposal." He told me, and that was all I needed to hear.

~~

Thanks For Reading!😍

[aceofthegreenajah]

Someone liked one of my wot reread posts and reminded me I intended to make those, so here is one! I’m in caemlyn and have met Loial (!) but not Elayne yet. Not really tearing through this section because honestly there wasn’t really anything to make me enthusiastic to read. Nothing that bad either, just - small annoyances.

For Nynaeve it’s that while I love her, she feels a bit one-note, or something? I’ve sometimes thought that RJ struggles to write people changing their minds, or maybe just the length of the series makes it extremely tiring when they don’t. And every time Nynaeve complains about Moiraine I think “ugh, I’ve got like ten more books of this. Spare me!” So, since I dread it already, it draws my attention to it all the more. Not really this books fault.

With Perrin some of the stuff is good - the ravens were good read, I like some things about how the tuatha’an are described - the constant music and dancing, the greetings and departing words, so on. Some things I liked how the show handled better.

I’m not at all fond of Elyas either. And I really am not a fan of the rudeness and barking at the kids. Or the ‘I’ve got a feeling, no idea what it means tho...’ trope that he falls into in this part. It shows the author’s hand. You’re the writer! You don’t need to do this! If you want to build mystery then show us a fascinating clue that the characters don’t know what to make of! If you want them to stay with the tuatha’an you can show them notice a few ravens and decide to stay with the group as camourflage! Or if you don’t think that’s likely, just have one of them twist an ankle and need to stay off it for a few days! You can control this stuff!

(Honestly if they cut Elyas and give his role for Hurin I won’t grieve. I like Hurin more. Probably they’ll do the other way around though, didn’t we get Elyas casting news? Or was that just a rumor?)

Hopper is old! Was old. I didn’t remember that. Maybe I remember his dream self? We’ll see. But I wonder how the show will visualize (or otherwise show) all the wolf stuff? They must do more than they did in season 1, right? Perrin’s experiences don’t really transfer to screen easily tho, so they probably have to make some changes to make it visually interesting.

Hmm. What else - Loial is adorable. Mat and Rand’s roadtrip was fun enough, though honestly these darkfriends are mostly pretty pathetic. Dana in the show was nice and memorable, with a strong personality and motivation. These guys are pretty forgettable.

But Elayne and our first glimpse of Logain should be up soon! Looking forward to that!

[alegacyofmonsters]

the Josie is problematic list please please PLEASE I'm begging🙏🏾

Here you go!

Read before you read the list:

1. Nothing said here has anything to do with ships. Don’t bring it up. 

2. I will be very clear when something is opinion. Unless clearly stated otherwise, these are facts from canon. 

3. It’s hard to say how much is “bad writing” and how much is the character, so I will be holding Josie exactly as she is written.

4. Other TVDU characters’ bad actions don’t excuse Josie’s. Don’t bring it up to justify her actions.

5. Josie doing some good things doesn’t make all the bad things she does okay.

6. You can still like Josie as a character. All I’m saying is that she’s not a good person right now and these are the reasons why people don’t like her. 

It’s also worth pointing out that, yes, Josie is capable of doing nice or selfless things when she wants to. But it’s also very important to pay attention to the people she’s most nice to (Penelope, Landon, Finch … see a pattern?) and the people she’s most often not to (Lizzie, Hope, Alaric). Acting nicely towards people she’s romantically interested in or wants something from neither negates the problem with her nor makes her a nice person. It only proves she can be kind when she needs to be or when it benefits her. 

Also, disclaimer: This is only updated through 3x15. I’ll probably get around to updating it midway through S4 or when something really big happens. Same thing with Hope and Lizzie’s lists; they’re not up to date.

1x01

“Cleanup on Aisle L”

There’s no reason for Josie to be making jokes about her sister’s episodes when she knows how much Lizzie struggles with them.

Lighting Penelope on fire

Exes or not, making out with MG or not, lighting your drunk ex on fire isn’t cool.

1x02

Josie bystanding Dana’s (and everyone else’s as a common theme) comments about Lizzie

I understand Josie not saying anything to Dana’s face, but even just a little, “Hey, your meds don’t make it okay to bully you,” would’ve comforted Lizzie or Josie not acting like it was Lizzie’s fault would’ve been better.

“You really want Dad to stop loving us? Keep it up.”

Textbook manipulation. Josie takes one of Lizzie’s biggest fears (perpetuated by Josie in the first place, but that comes later) and uses it to convince Lizzie to do what Josie wants above what everyone else wanted.

1x03

Poking at Hope about her and Lizzie

Yelling at her dad for saving Hope

At first glance, it’s a harmless scene but after we find out that Josie manufactured the entire rivalry between Hope and Lizzie it becomes much more malicious.

"MG has the impulse control of a preschooler."

More making fun of/blaming people for their mental illness.

I understand Josie being upset about her dad almost dying, but saying it in front of Hope, who has already struggled with suicidal tendencies, that she’d rather have her die than be saved was a low move.

1x05

Gets upset that Lizzie isn’t a mind reader

Josie never once indicated that she was remotely interested in the position - in fact, she went out of her way to make it seem like she didn’t, and then she holds it above Lizzie’s head to make her sister seem selfish.

1x06

“You’re the reason I got buried alive.”

When Lizzie wasn’t on hand to blame, Josie tried to guilt-trip Penelope for her getting buried alive when Josie was the one who broke the rules to let her mother out in the first place.

1x10

(Yes, this was an AU episode, but honestly nothing Josie does here is any different than what she does in the real world.)

“Try to keep it together today.”

Just blatant ableism - it’s not like Lizzie chooses to be mentally ill or have bad days.

“Someone’s clearly having an off day.”

More ableist jokes.

Laughing at Dana’s meds joke

Again, blatant ableism.

“Every time things are going well for me, you have an episode and ruin everything just to steal the spotlight.”

Did someone order more ableism? I didn’t.

“Honestly, Lizzie, if I believed every paranoid delusion that came out of your mouth, I’d be just as crazy as you.”

Ableism with a side of gaslighting this time.

“I have spent my entire life trying to make you feel better about yourself.”

I know this is an AU and we don’t have the history, but Josie carries the same sentiment in the universe we do know while we clearly see that’s not the case, so it’s very likely the same thing applies here.

“Watched Dad try to kill himself doing it too. Why do you think he drinks all the time?” 

I shouldn’t have to say this, but blaming a parent’s addiction on the child (an addiction that started some good twenty years before said child was even conceived) is straight up abusive.

“I am done making excuses for you. I am done worrying about when you are going to snap. And I am done letting you control my happiness.”

1. Same as two points ago. 2. Again with the ableism as if Lizzie can control when she has manic or depressive episodes. 3. Nobody controls Josie’s happiness except Josie, in the real world and the AU world. It’s not fair to say it’s Lizzie’s responsibility to make Josie happy.

1x11

People’s efforts never being enough for Josie

Josie hints at what she wants, the entire witch faction bends over backwards to make it happen, and Josie (spoiler alert) miraculously still ends up as the victim at the end of the episode.

“You’re a terrible sister.”

Lizzie is no more terrible than Josie is, and to have Josie say this after Lizzie spent the entire episode going out of her way to get Josie what she wanted is honestly awful.

1x12

“I didn’t just lie. I started the fire.”

Josie not only told the entire school about her sister’s first episode, then she blamed Hope with the sole intent of driving Lizzie and Hope apart. She arguably ruined Lizzie’s school/social life and then shifted the blame to someone else. Then Josie proceeds to pretend like Hope and Lizzie are the problem the entire episode until she’s forced to confess where she neither apologizes for lying, for spreading the rumors, nor for starting the fire. 

1x14

Josie is jealous that Lizzie chose Hope

Josie really had the audacity to be upset that Lizzie chose Hope as her replacement in an attempt to turn over a new leaf after Josie’s manipulation came to light.

Ignoring Penelope and then playing victim to Lizzie

All episode, Penelope told Josie she should try to win and offered to help. Josie said on four or five separate occasions that she didn’t want to win and refused Penelope’s help over and over. She even said falling down was her idea to try and win back Lizzie after she hurt her. Yet somehow, miraculously, came out as the victim in the end.

Blames Lizzie for letting Hope wear the dress

I don’t know how Lizzie was supposed to know Klaus gave Caroline the dress or why - if it was really such a big deal to Josie - she didn’t say anything sooner and instead waiting until she wanted to wear the dress and Hope could hear.

Is upset at Lizzie for Penelope leaving

Penelope tried for four episodes to get Josie to listen, and Josie refused to hear her. Then, Josie blames both Lizzie and Penelope for not telling her sooner despite her actively ignoring it.

1x15

“This isn’t about needing space. This is about every waking moment of my life being suffocated by you.”

Other than Lizzie’s obvious need for a little extra help from their parents, when has Lizzie suffocated her life? An episode ago, Lizzie wasn’t there enough. Which is it?

“Then you should stay away.”

You know what’s suffocating? The ableism coming from this girl. Why does she think mentally ill people don’t deserve a support system or help when they’re struggling? If Lizzie really is as suicidal and struggling with self harm as Josie says, why would she want her sister to crash alone and potentially hurt herself or worse?

“She did this to herself.”

Oh, that’s right. Because she thinks mental illness is a choice. Do I even need to say “ableism” again?

“She can choose to take her medication. She hasn’t taken it since we went to go see our mom because she doesn’t like the way that it makes her feel.”

I have a hard time believing that Josie Saltzman, who grew up with a sister who took a variety of different meds and supposedly spends every waking moment of her life with her, could “accidentally” be so tone deaf. There is a long list of completely valid reasons why someone would want to stop taking the meds, and the meds making someone worse is one of them (think about how many more violent episodes Lizzie was having from 1x01-1x10 that stopped when she stopped taking the meds). So why does Josie think Lizzie has to suffer bad meds in order to be more convenient for her?

“Letting her crash is the only way anything will ever change.”

Considering that Josie knows well enough to blab about the fact that Lizzie self harms and thinks she is a danger to herself and others when she’s crashing, this is very obviously not true. In fact, what it is - you guessed it - is ableist. 

“All I’ve ever done is worry about you.”

That’s a weird way to pronounce “complain.”

“I’ll come back for the part where you beg me to forgive you.”

Why does she have to forgive Lizzie for saying that codependency takes two people?

1x16

“Like clockwork - victim.”

The hypocrisy is so strong in this one I don’t even think I have to point it out.

“You are unbelievably selfish.”

Lizzie wanting to die with a reason isn’t all that selfish, especially when she’s already been known to be suicidal and someone has been bullying her over the same mental illness for the last week.

2x01

“My sister is the queen of self-harm.”

Lizzie’s self-harm is both not a joke nor Josie’s information to be giving out to anyone. It’s definitely not a brag. 

“I gave up my summer with Mom to make sure you wouldn’t be alone.”

Everybody in the Saltzman family was asking Josie to go to Europe. She refused every time, and then blames someone else for her own decision. 

2x02

Josie making Flirty Witch’s nose bleed for doodling Landon

Josie and Landon weren’t a thing and hadn’t even gone on a first date yet, and Josie is using magic to harm a teenage girl for having a crush.

“I’m always the caretaker.”

Nope. Just nope on this one. Gaslighting is a no.

2x03

The way she treated Hope at the beginning of the match

Josie didn’t even know her, and even if she suspected Landon of cheating on her with Hope, why would she be upset with Hope and not with Landon?

“You bury little Miss Milkshake.”

Her aggression towards Hope is just unjustified and cruel. Again, she suspects Landon of cheating? Why is she only trying to hurt the girl who would have no idea she existed? Why is she encouraging violence anyway?

“You have a problem hitting her or something?”

Maybe some people care about other human beings, Josie.

“Why are you taking her side?”

Read above.

Breaking Ethan’s arm

Joise knew the spell would do something bad. She’s well-versed enough in magic to know, and plenty intelligent enough not to use a spell she doesn’t know. Even after she snaps his arm, she makes no attempts to right what she’s done.

“I hurt someone. I wanted to.”

I think this one speaks for itself. 

2x04

“That’s Japenese for ‘What the hell is she doing here?’”

Again with the bullying of someone who’s not the person who supposedly did her wrong?

In fact, the entire way Josie treated Hope this episode. I’m not going to list them all. My fingers would fall off.

“Guess she’s not the only one who gets to save your life today. So you’re welcome.”

Why does Josie demand thanks when she gives none when she’s saved? 

“You gave me that black magic spell and because of it, I broke that kid’s arm.”

Yeah and if I hand someone a bullet on the street and they load their gun and shoot someone, I’m not the only one at fault here. Take some accountability. 

2x05

Using Lizzie’s reputation (that Josie manufactured) as a threat, even light-heartedly

Josie uses Lizzie’s name when Josie’s the one who wants things done perfectly, hiding behind her sister again to be liked

Josie skipped plans with her father

Not a crime on its own obviously, but when she later blames him for not making time for her, it becomes hypocritical

Josie is forced to confess that she voted out her father

Same as above. Perfectly fine on its own. Horrible when she demands sympathy for it later.

2x06

Josie spying on Lizzie with Penelope’s journal

I’ll let Freya take this one: “Magic and privacy don’t mix well.”

Knocked Freya out when she called Josie out for not wanting to use the spell

I think this one’s easy but attacking people is not nice.

“I needed a push to do the right thing.”

Josie was going to let the people closest to her actively suffer for her own convenience. And when she finally did, all she was worried about was how it would affect her and her relationship.

“At least this one’s got a hot guy guest star.”

More poking fun at Lizzie’s mental illness and struggles. 

2x07

“He’s not the only friend keeping secrets.”

How is Josie both going to not bring back the memories of Hope and be mad that Hope didn’t make her remember?

Ignores Lizzie when she asks her again not to do back magic

Again, not entirely awful by itself (although a little because Josie knows it also affects Lizzie physically) but when she later tells Lizzie she’s selfish for not noticing she was using black magic, it becomes hypocritical

“Cut to the chase. Who are you gonna choose?”

Josie didn’t even go to the actual Landon to talk to him. She tried to go around him and use magic to get answers he didn’t have.

“So SimuLandon is running around telling everyone he loves Hope. I guess I’m just second-rate.”

Josie’s the one who made him and wanted answers out of him, but now she’s jealous that he - not even the real Landon - has no filter? 

In general, the whole way Josie was so unreceptive to Hope’s reconciliation

For someone who supposedly was friends with Hope and remembered everything before Malivore, Josie treated her pretty awfully when Hope was scared to come back to school

2x09

“I thought they were okay, but it’s just bad again.”

Josie treated Hope awfully when she decided to come back and for no reason other than Landon got his memories back. She dragged Hope around emotionally and lied to her instead of just saying how she felt to start with. 

Josie stealing from her father

Once again, not bad on its own. Just when she later tries to guilt him for not noticing how bad she was doing when she was purposely sneaking behind his back for the exact reason that he wouldn’t know.

“Getting rid of magical evidence before my dad overreacts.”

See above. And why does Josie think she knows better than every adult around her?

“I don’t want to be powerful.”

I mean … that’s just a straight up lie at this point. She’s shown over and over again that powerful and strong is all she wants to be no matter who she hurts, but as soon as it has consequences, she throws her hands up and pretends like it wasn’t what she was after in the first place.

“I get upset more easily. I’m on edge. Jealous.” “It’s not all the magic.”

Not so much a problem point, just pointing out that Josie’s issues can’t be pinned on black magic.

2x10

“Maybe I deserve the magic to just boomerang back to me.”

Once again, as soon as Josie faces consequences, she throws her hands up and demands sympathy for her own actions even when everyone else is already trying to help her.

“Distract you from what?”

This is one of those not-a-problem-on-its-own ones again. Josie is just as, if not more, clueless about Lizzie’s suffering than she is of hers, yet Josie always says she’s the one taking care of Lizzie and that Lizzie never pays attention to her. At least Lizzie is vocal about her struggles.

2x12

(Now this is when Dark!Josie comes in, so I’ll start by clarifying that 1. Dark!Josie is Josie. She’s not being possessed by a separate entity or being controlled by someone else. All the characters have said she's doing the things Josie has always wanted to do and the actors, writers, and producers have all said Dark!Josie and Josie are the same person and 2. I personally don’t hold Josie as accountable for Dark!Josie things as I do for her previous horribleness, but that doesn’t mean other people can’t since, again, they are the same person.)

Ties up her father in the prison world where five people want to kill him

Do I really need to give an explanation for that one? I just … that was low. Even for Josie.

2x13

Josie shows no concern for her dying twin.

Yeah, yeah, “Dark!Josie” but dark magic doesn’t make you emotionless. It’s not a humanity switch. Look at literally any other witch who used black magic (and to much larger proportions than Josie’s two spells too)

“I’m back.”

Are you telling me that Lizzie was supposed to sense the dark magic in Josie when Josie couldn’t even sense it in herself? Or was it just a flatout lie?

2x14

Josie in the simulation box

I shouldn’t have to tell you by now that torturing and murdering people is wrong. Yes, it was a simulation. Yes, she had dark magic. No, I will not list everything she did in the box.

“You’re full of black magic. I was too selfish to see it before.”

Josie has Lizzie so convinced that not being a mind reader and that having her own life (that Josie demanded) makes her a bad person. And again, Josie couldn’t even feel the black magic? How could Lizzie?

2x15

Tries to kill MG

Murder bad.

Kills Alyssa.

Murder bad.

Tries to kill Hope.

Murder still bad.

Kills Lizzie.

Murder still bad.

“One less mouth to feed.”

Joking about murder bad. 

2x16

Josie’s sexist and rude comments towards Hope.

I will not list them all. Sure, she “didn’t want Hope to know it was her.” So speak in a British accent or something? Why is sexism your go-to disguise? For that matter, why is ableism your go-to insults in the real world?

Doesn’t tell anyone she turned Hope to stone in her mind

Sure, nothing came out of it. But when Hope was unconscious and not waking up, Josie didn’t think to mention what she had done? She just put her magic away and pretended like it didn’t involve her?

3x01

Plays the victim card when Alyssa (rightfully!) calls her out for murdering her.

I think we can all agree that Alyssa had a very good point here.

Doesn’t tell Lizzie she put her magic away until she can use it to manipulate

Josie had plenty of opportunities to tell Lizzie (before or during field day) that she didn’t have her magic. Instead, she waited until she could throw it back in Lizzie’s face publicly, place the victim, and guilt her sister again. It’s becoming a pattern.

“All your trying, it doesn’t change anything. You’re making everything worse like you used to.”

The entire fandom cringed during that line. Every last one. She just waved her hypocrisy and narcissism like a giant flag. I don’t know why I thought Season 3 Josie would magically treat Lizzie like a human being, but consider me disappointed. 

“This is exactly what you wanted. It’s what you’ve been trying to make me do all day.”

Josie really just gave up on subtle hypocrisy this episode huh. Really just wants to blame Lizzie for everything again huh.

“She thinks that I should be the focus for a change.”

Is it possible to literally explode from too much hypocrisy? Because that what it felt like every time Josie opened her mouth this episode. It physically hurt.

“I know that all you’ve been trying to do lately is help me.”

So … she does know? Because a literal episode ago, she was saying nobody tries to help her. 

3x03

“She can’t decide what she wants, and when she finally does decide, she makes a super selfish choice.

We all heard how disgusted Josie was when a mirror was held to her face. The hypocrisy is literally killing me slowly.

“You gave up on Hope, like, twice.”

Didn’t you want her to die, like, twice and didn’t want to bring back memories of her in Season 2? Starts with “H” and ends with “Y”.

“At first I thought she was selfish, but she was just being honest about how she’s changed.”

Glad Elena changed. You still didn’t. Josie literally went through all of Season 2’s mess and came out the same person she was at the beginning of Season 1. No growth, no improvement, nothing. Just a bigger ego.

3x04

“If you can forgive me for that one time I killed you?”

How hard would it have been to actually say the words “I’m sorry” to the girl who murdered instead of skirting around the apology and immediately demanding forgiveness.

3x05

“You’re in a good mood. What’s wrong?”

Even if it were light-hearted, saying something like this to someone who literally struggles with manic and depressive states out of their control is beyond shitty.

“My sister took the news about me wanting to transfer about as well as you did Maya leaving.”

I don’t have to say it, but I will. Not nice to lie about your siblings, especially when Finch’s (unexplained) reaction resulted in suspension and Lizzie just didn’t give her full support.

3x09

“Please. The LARPers and comic book geeks sit over there. It’s probably more your speed.”

Telling people who they can and can’t be friends with is very school bully-ish.

“Knock it off. No vamp powers.” / “We need to keep it that way or my dad is going to yank us out of this school.”

Expecting MG to be able to just turn his hearing off and then threatening him with a consequence Josie knows isn’t real is a no. A hard no.

Josie wanting Ethan compelled for her own convenience

MG says it best: “No offense, Jo, but what are you really worried about risking?”

“I do know that, Dad.”

Another not-a-point, just important to note for when she uses Alaric “not loving” her or Lizzie for sympathy and manipulation

Josie asking Lizzie to spy on Finch with magic

I’ll use Freya’s words again here: “Magic and privacy don’t mix.” 

3x11

Having to fight with herself to care enough to save someone’s life

Because that’s what the whole Dark!Josie/Josie scene was. It wasn’t some separate entity sitting there. It wasn’t another person. It was Josie’s subconscious projected into a hologram. That was Josie’s internal monologue brought to the screen, no magic involved, having to try that hard to convince herself to help save Hope’s life. 

3x12

“Bringing the Necromancer to the surface sounds like something we’d live to regret.” / “Why are you making me do this?” “Short answer? We used to be black magic frenemies.”

Telling her father he shouldn’t try to bring back the Necromancer only to try to do it herself the second he walked out the door was suspicious at best, not to mention hypocritical. How many people died last time?

3x13

Ignoring Finch’s reluctance to come to SBS and not listening when Finch told her why their situations weren’t the same

She did come around by the end of the episode beautifully and realized what Finch was saying, but it still happened and it still shows her trying to control the people around her.

3x14

“Lizzie went on this witch-y wellness retreat, but I haven’t heard from her in over a week. I think that she might be in trouble.”

Blatant manipulation. Not a new thing, but at least this time might’ve been with good intentions.

Not noticing anything was wrong with Lizzie despite being in contact with her

I wouldn’t normally make this a point, but since Josie complains that Lizzie and Alaric didn’t notice anything wrong with her under black magic, it makes her hypocritical to see nothing wrong when she does it to someone else.

“You’re the one that indoctrinated us into a freaking cult.”

It was Josie’s idea to visit, Josie was the reason Lizzie was there in the first place, she lied to get Hope there, didn’t want to leave when Hope did, didn’t want to leave when Lizzie did, but somehow it’s all Lizzie’s fault that they were in this mess? I think not. And of course, no apology, but on the bright side, some awareness that this is her “normal.”

“All I’ve ever wanted for you is happiness.”

A bold-faced lie edging into gaslighting at this point. Somehow the last decade of how she treated Hope didn’t happen for her.

3x15

“You’re a princess.” / “Why am I not a princess?!” / “You get to be the princess.”

The one time Josie wasn’t the princess (in someone else’s fanfic, mind you), it’s endless complaining and guilting. 

Reading Lizzie’s diary and then blaming it on Lizzie’s MI

Yes, Josie was eleven when she read the diary. She was seventeen when she decided to blame Lizzie’s MI, not apologize for it, and then play victim in all of it. Ableism bad. Lying bad. Manipulating bad. 

Josie reading Lizzie’s diary to the other witches and laughing about it

Even at eleven years old, you know not to bully people about their MI’s. 

[kpop-dungeon-dark]

Heat. (Bestfriend!Sanha x You)

•TRIGGER WARNING•

Warning(s): Non-Con. Both of you are legal in this. Read at your own risk.

Sanha couldn't help it. She was just so pretty. Too pretty. To him. The way her eyebrows furrowed as the girl tried to concentrate on the chemistry equation she was solving under his guidance, chewing on the butt of the pencil and sighing when she couldn't get it right, the adorable little whine releasing from her mouth. His eyes slowly flickered down to her soft looking lips.

He wanted to kiss them. So fucking much. For so many years now.

The lovestruck boy didn't even realise when the lines between fantasy and reality eventually blurred, him leaning in and kissing her soft yet tight, his lips sticking to hers, refusing to go almost. Sanha was so carried away by the heavenly feeling that the loud gasp that escaped Y/n against his lips drowned in the pounding of his heart was that was ringing in his ears.

"... Sanha… Sanha!" It took him a few moments to snap out of it, Y/n pushing at his chest as her body backed away from his much bigger and broader one. "Sanha!" He opened his eyes to see her frowning at him with a disapproving expression. "I- I told you…" Sighing heavily, she uneasily put her books to the side and stood up. "I told you that day when you- you- I don't feel the same way about you."

The boy's jaw clenched as he looked up at her, backing away from where he was leaned in as he softly grasped the bedsheet of his bed. "Why not? And… how are you so sure, even, huh?" She was unable to notice the pretty vivid change in his tone and posture today. The girl didn't know better. "We have been inseparable ever since we can remember, we know each other so well and we get along so well!" Standing up in irritation, he towered over her, eyebrows furrowed and shoulders slowly rising and falling due to the change in his breathing pattern.

"Sanha- Sanha-! I know! I know!" Y/n nodded and agreed, trying to speak over him as he continued to ramble on, trying to convince her in whatever way. "I know! And I am sorry! But you're just- not my type, Sanha! I am sorry!" His heart fluttered in an unpleasant way and stomach twisted at how her eyebrows furrowed in worry.

"Oh, really?" Sanha stopped trying to convince her, burying his hands in the pockets of his pants instead and leaning down at her. "So you have grown up well enough to know your type, huh?" The blush that spread across her face followed by his words made his jaw clench. "My little Y/n is all grown up and wise now, hm? No longer requires my guidance or help deciding what she needs?"

The girl sighed at his taunting tone, oblivious to what was about to come. "We have an amazing friendship, Dana. Don't mess it up, please…" Looking down to avert her gaze from his because for some reason she just couldn't look in his eyes, the girl bit her lip. "You of all people know that I like the guy who lives in the house next to mine."

"Dongmin. Lee fucking Dongmin, huh?" Hatred laced the boy's words as his mind started to imagine the mentioned boy's pretty and kind face all broken and bruised; beaten to a pulp.

By of course no one other than Sanha.

"Don't be like that!" Giggling a little, she pushed at his shoulder playfully and sat back down, pretending to be busy with the books. "Come, help me go over these notes and stop sulking! Besides, yeah. I am old enough to know what I want now, Dana! I can't always rely on you and wait for you to guide me how to do simple daily life things, right?"

"Wrong." It happened so fast Y/n's brain couldn't even decipher it. Sanha pushed the books away and off the bed with such force they went flying away, one of his hands grabbing the girl's throat as he climbed the bed, dragging her shocked body to the middle using the grasp he had on her. "I am and will always be the one to tell you what to do because you're way too pathetic and dumb to know that on your own." A deep chuckle left him as her eyes widened and legs started kicking when the shock subsided, replacing it with panic.

"S- S- SAN- SANH-"

"Aww, not so big now, are we? Tsk tsk." Tears welled up in her eyes when she looked up at him to find a foreign expression on his face. A smirk of betrayal with dark and cold eyes looking her up and down. "Fuck… I've always wondered how these pretty looking privates of you would feel in my hands, babygirl" Sanha didn't have to use much strength keeping her in place as he climbed over the girl's smaller body, instantly groping and feeling her wherever he could, not getting much bothered by the hits and scratches her small hands were giving him.

There was so much Y/n's little hands could do against the giant.

"P- Please… please… no… please stop… You don't have to do this" the girl heaved in exhaustion as she begged Sanha, trembling and crying as she could feel his hands under her hoodie and down her shorts, squeezing and pinching wherever they pleased.

"You're right, I didn't." Pulling the string from her hoodie, the boy dragged them closer to the headboard sickly calm, ears red and erection so hard it poked the girl's thigh even through his boxers and pants. "This is YOUR fault, you hear me? YOU did this to YOURSELF" his voice was soft but rough as he punched the words in her brain, tying her hands to the headboard using the string while knowing it would be enough to easily hold her down.

"Had you cooperated and just obeyed me like little girls such as yourself fucking should instead of trying to do any thinking on your own" shaking his head, Sanha moved back down to her body, pushing the hoodie up until it bunched around her neck, big and warm rough hands tugging off her shorts roughly. "A chance… That was all I asked for."

A sob escaped the girl as the male spread her soft thighs apart, smiling as he admired her pussy lips, probing and spreading them. "Such a pretty cunt." He found himself loving the whimpers and cries escaping her, grazing his thumb up and down her folds, it's tip feeling her tiny and unused entrance, making the girl jump by spitting on it before starting to work it in.

"S- San-"

"Shhhhh~" messily stuffing her shorts that were a bit too short for his liking, the male gave a sensual lick to her soft and red pussy lips, kissing them right after and chuckling at how her thighs trembled from the feeling. "Fuck, Y/n. You've no idea how much I've wanted to tie you up like this and eat you silly before fucking you dumb as you whine and cry in pleasure, begging me for more."

Y/n tried to break free, her wrists starting to burn against the string due to how fragile her skin was. "Mmm… I promise, babygirl. By the time I am done with you, you'll be wrapped around my little finger on your knees for me." Stroking the outside of her thighs, the male shakily breathed out, crotch grinding against the mattress that they had spent their childhood playing with their toys on.

"Hnnnggg… you like it, don't you? Fuck-" Sanha looked up, his face drenched in her natural juices and his own spit, heavily breathing as he searched her face for an expression, eyes dark. "You taste so much better and sweeter than I imagined, babygirl." He went back to admiring it, playing and teasing it with his index finger, other hand continuously caressing her thigh.

It was surreal. After all these years of imagining this over and over in different scenarios and circumstances, it was finally happening. And this. This was better than all that he had fantasized.

So sweet. So soft. So… real.

Sanha could feel his head start to pound from the need and intoxication his own hormones were putting him under, now teasing her asshole with the hand that had previously been on her thigh, just wanting to feel it, feel her. All of her.

That was his. Finally.

"So tight… fuck!" Rubbing her clit with his thumb and circling her navel with his middle finger as his hand was big enough to do so, Sanha fucked her pussy hole open with the hot tip of his tongue, trying to force it in and deeper, circling the rim of muscles with it. "Now tell me, tell Daddy, it feels fucking amazing, doesn't it? Daddy is making you feel soooo good, isn't be?" Pushing one of his middle fingers up her entrance instead, the boy moved up now, removing the shorts from Y/n's mouth causing her to gasp aloud for air.

"S- Sanh- Sanha-" a sharp smack across her cheek locked her throat up again, forcing a cry out of her throat instead.

"It's Daddy" grasping her soft locks, he pulled her hair back to make the girl look at her better and glared down at her. "You must speak to your owner and caregiver with respect, little one." Pressing a wet kiss to her lips, the boy hungrily ran his tongue around them, moaning and sucking at them. "So, tell Daddy now. Tell him how good he's making you feel…" Y/n winced and cried harder, clenching around his rather thick finger on defense.

"P- Please… please… I am s- sorry! Stop! Please! Please, just stop!" His eyebrows furrowed as he pushed another finger in, stretching and stimulating her from the inside, thumb grazing against her clit.

"Are you telling me you don't feel good? This doesn't feel good? Daddy isn't making you feel good?" His voice was alarmingly soft and… deadly. But the innocent girl was too foolish to know that, of course.

"N- No… No… I- I don't! Stop, please! It hurts!" She honestly pouted, tears rolling down her cheeks as she tried to struggle weakly, actually expecting him to stop.

"You leave me no choice, then." Pulling his fingers out of her, Sanha didn't pay any attention to the shaky naive little sigh of relief that left her, unbuttoning and unzipping his pants before pulling his cock out and smirking. "If being nice isn't gonna get me anywhere," gripping her throat, he shakily moaned and pumped his cock, pressing the head to her opening. "Then I won't." Giving a powerful thrust in Y/n's pussy which tore due to his girth, the boy crazily grinned.

"I'll simply get my pleasure and lock you up until I need you again. Just how you're meant to be. A pretty doll, all for me."

.

[thefreakishmuffin]

The Owl House season 2 analysis: Eda and the Owlbeast

(May not have as many screenshots in this one, so I apologize in advance for the long walls of text. I’m getting the pics I can from google).

Alright everybody, strap in, because this is gonna be a pretty long read, as this is the part of the episode that hit me the hardest. And I mean that in the absolute best way possible. But son of a gun, just when I think The Owl House can’t depict the struggles of mental illness and trauma any better, they top that bar and go above and beyond. Dana Terrace and the rest of the crew, you’re doing amazing!

So let’s start off with Eda. After losing Raine and getting an inside view from them about the Emperor’s plan for the Day of Unity, Eda has started to work herself to the brink of exhaustion, feeling like she has to protect those around her. In an attempt to help Eda relax and get some sleep, Hooty makes her cookies spiked with sleeping nettles, which apparently gives you heightened and eerily vivid dreams. And here is where we get to what I feel is the most intense part of the entire episode.

Part of the reason Eda’s been avoiding sleep is so that she won’t have to come face to face with the Owlbeast again. But now, she decides to confront the Owlbeast herself. She states that the Owlbeast is the reason she ran away from home, and the reason she never got close to anyone. She decides that now’s the time that she’s gonna be the one to haunt the beast that has always haunted her. She seems very vengeful here, with a kind of rage in her eyes.

However, when she’s about to head down the hall, the dream transitions Eda back to her old room from when she was young, and finds herself transformed into her teenage self as well. We see here that she’s at home with her family, and it’s here that we see her father for the first time. It’s here that she runs up and hugs her father. This shows that she does indeed love her father very much, and has been missing him all this time. Her father even calls her by the cute nickname of ‘pumpkin’. This shows that the two of them have - or at least have had - a loving father-daughter relationship.

Unfortunately, things start to go south when Eda’s father, who we learn is named Dell, pulls out a little party favor for his kids before heading out to the Mandible. The sudden loud noise appears to scare the Owlbeast inside of Eda, triggering her to go into her Owlbeast form. This causes the Owlbeast - which I interpret as Eda herself, as she is reliving traumatic flashbacks - to attack her father causing severe damage to his right eye.

Now this could be very well be why Eda was so uncomfortable when Lilith spoke of reconnecting with their father. Eda feels terrible about what happened, and is nervous about seeing their father again after the incident. She is burdened with guilt for what happened. However, she tries to tell herself that it wasn’t her fault, but rather the fault of the Owlbeast inside of her. 

The dream transitions to another scene later in her life, about her mid-twenties, where she was dating Raine. But this isn’t a happy memory, as here Raine accuses Eda of lying to them about her curse, and how they feel as if they don’t know her anymore. It’s here that Raine admits to Eda that they are joining the Bard Coven, and that they are breaking up. The emotional devastation of this moment activates Eda’s curse. Raine asks Eda if she’s okay, to which Eda pushes Raine away and states that she’s okay. Raine, unable to help despite still loving Eda, takes their leave, knowing that Eda will never let them really help her. Present day Eda pleads with her past self to let Raine help them, to which her past self insists that everything is fine and that she’s okay.

This, to me at least, is a very big metaphor for mental illness, and how it can push those you love away simply by refusing their help. Eda, not wanting to hurt or burden anyone with her problems, constantly tells everyone she’s fine. By not letting others help her, she’s hurting herself in the process. And in turn is pushing away those who genuinely want to help her, but they don’t know what to do if she won't tell the what’s going on. The Owlbeast is making it a point for force Eda to relive some of the moments of her life where the Owlbeast curse affected her relationships with others the most. 

Eda then attacks the Owlbeast when it shows up again, repeatedly blaming the creature for ruining her life and making her miserable. But then Eda turns into her Owlbeast form herself, and is ensnared by a mysterious figure in a cloak decorated with celestial patterns, and where its face should be is dark with a crescent moon - or perhaps an eclipse. The figure then states, “Don’t bother beast, you can’t run away anymore. It’s over.” With a menacing laugh.

I’ll be honest, I don’t know totally what to make of this being. But I assume it has something to do with the Day of Unity, given all the celestial bodies and eclipse symbolism that the two have in common. Is this perhaps the being that created the spell that cursed Eda? Does this mean that this curse will play a vital role in the Day of Unity? I honestly don’t know. I’m kinda stuck on this one. This scene felt very ambiguous to me.

Eda takes off in flight, only to fall into the sea with her figure becoming the scroll that possessed the spell that cursed her in the first place. the scroll gets picked up by a passerby, and is presumably taken to the night market. We then have a sad Eda sitting on the banks of an ocean, with the smaller version of the Owlbeast trying to get away from her. But there is a red string connecting them. This could be the ‘red string of fate’. It originates in Chinese folklore, but the idea is that the string connects two destined soulmates. Now, I don’t think the Owlbeast is a soulmate to Eda, but this does sow that the two of them are definitely tied together. 

And it’s here that it finally hits Eda; just as she is haunted by the Owlbeast, the Owlbeast is haunted by her as well. She now tries to show kindness to the shrunken Owlbeast as it climbs up onto the shore, exhausted from trying to be free from her. And then one of Eda’s potions washes up on shore. And Eda does something amazing here. She accepts the reality that the two of them are stuck together, regardless of whether they like or not. And that the potion is the only reason the two of them can see each other and communicate face to face. Eda then says, “If we can’t learn to accept each other, this nightmare will never end.”

Eda asks for a temporary truce, to which the Owlbeast agrees by drinking some of the potion from Eda’s hand and resting on her lap, seemingly in a moment of peace. the sky changes color to a beautiful, rainbow-like scene, to which Eda states, “I’ve never had a dream this pretty.” And then she finally wakes up.

This whole scene was symbolic of someone accepting a mental illness. A piece of themselves that they resent and wish they could live without. As someone who suffers from a few mental illnesses myself, this part of the episode really spoke to me. Eda is accepting the reality of her curse, but is doing her best to try and not to resent it, now accepting that it’s a part of her. And I think she’s even coming to the understanding here that, even though the Owlbeast has blame for pushing Eda’s loved ones away, she shares just as much blame as well for never allowing those she loved to help her.

This particular part of the episode highlights just how important it is to allow others to help you when you are suffering. You are not a burden to someone who unconditionally loves you and is willing to do everything in their power to help you, no matter what. Just earlier she was saying that she needs to protect those she loves the most from the Emperor’s plans. Now that Eda is once again surrounded by people who love her, she is no longer going to try and push them away. But instead, she’s decided she’s going to protect them no matter what.

Eda wakes up from her dream to find that she can now transform into a new form she has complete control over. One that we’ll call her Harpy form from now on. This, I believe, is now a version of her Owlbeast form that she can control. This can even be a metaphor for someone fully accepting themselves with their mental illness and, in a way, “transforming” themselves into their best self.

[kaypeace21]

I believe that byler is an endgame

but why would they spend 3 seasons winding up with mileven?

People REALLY need to pay attention to the shows the Duffers cited as huge inspirations to them. Cheers,dawsons creek, freak &geeks did exactly what the Duffers are doing (and the Duffers said these shows inspired them)

. Cheers for over 5 seasons built up the pairing of sam and Dianne- had them break up in the s5 finale and then in the last 2 eps of the 11th season have them get back together and once again break up explaining for the 100th time they were wrong for each other and brought out the worst in eachother . Cheers would build up multiple pairings (Frasier /Lilith (s4-11/broke up in s11) , sam/Dianne (s 1-11, broke up in s11 permanently) , rebecca /sam (s8-10) Rebecca/robin (s8-9) -these pairings lasted for multiple seasons and they all broke up! They built pairings up for multiple seasons but showed throughout the show why those pairing in cheers could never work out in the long term. The same Thing happened with almost every pairing in Dawson’s creek (they’d build up multiple pairings up -sometimes for multiple seasons- sprinkle in good but also dysfunctional aspects of those relationships- and then break them apart for good ).

Also in Dawson’s creek 2 characters (a rich girl and poor guy with daddy issues) date and breakup- but both of their gay brothers get together and are endgame instead of them (cough jancy vs byler). One of the gay guys (the rich one with the book smart sis) even dated the main girl (Joey) for a while before admitting he was gay and that he was in denial (while dating the main girl for more than a season ). In D.C even the main guy(Dawson) / girl (Joey) don’t end up being endgame (despite teasing it for all 5 seasons) . They did this with a lot of couples in the show. Honestly, the Duffers pretty much borrowed this idea of showing pairings with issues and breaking them up -but toned down how long they’d bait them . Like 11seasons of showing dysfunctional couples date -ick. And Dawson’s creek ... my god it had a literal love octogon/ love webs (so many love squares/pentagons/ and on and off relationships). The 1 adult couple broke up and I’m not exaggeration 4 times, and Dawson got back with 2 of his girlfriends like so many times. And ugh I’d say each (of the 4-5) main characters dated at least 4 people -and each of those relationships lasted for like 20+ eps each... and then after all that build up -break up ). That’s not even including the people the main 5 or so characters would date for like 5-6 eps . Thank god it was toned down compared to Dawson’s creek or cheers. i can’t imagine the frustration watching those shows during its airing 😂

Freaks & geeks (set in the 80s)was also inspo.14 y old Sam who is bullied and called “homo” “queer” etc throughout the whole series - he also obsesses over a cheerleader girl for the whole series and in the second to last ep of the series- they finally start dating  and he realizes they have nothing in common and says “it’s boring. all we ever do is makeout.She likes nothing i like. We can’t talk to eachother. We never have fun.” And he admits he only keeps dating her cause everyone would call him “crazy” to not date her. sam and her are also said to be “from different planets” and “different species”  just like mileven in s3 lol.  The gf of  sam also says before they dated she saw him ‘like a sister’ (like El asking mike if he’d be her brother in s1, before they date). And after this sibling comment various characters -encouraged the couple and said they would be good together (before they dated-like what we’ve seen in st with mileven and other ships ).Sam eventually decides to not cave to peer pressure- and breaks up with her. Meanwhile sam’s sis (is a straight A student, who is initially into a popular guy and starts hanging with the cool kids).  After getting over the first (popular) guy, she later dates another guy- a music-obsessed-stoner-guy  with a cruddy dad...and she breaks up with him (like jancy?). That couple was even called ‘romeo & juliet’ before they broke up-similar to mileven being called “romeo & juliet’ before their breakup. plus r&j were never in love... just like mileven.

All 3 shows had the main guy/girl date but not end up with eachother in the end . And both shows -would build up several pairings that looked like endgame but would show faults in those relationships and would have them breakup (because those pairings were never that healthy together). Which I believe is what they’re doing with jancy, jopper, mileven and lumax (explained in my analysis here all the evidence for why I don’t think they don’t end up together). I mean there’s many reasons I listed in the analysis but you think it’s a coincidence - jancy, lumax, mileven , and Steve/rando girl who rejected him in s3-all incorportated spying on their love interest ? you think the duffers think that’s good to have all these romantic pairings spy on eachother? When in the show they canonically have the us gov (villains) spy via phone taps, and hidden recorders, and cameras? Brenner used El as a spy for his own gain ? they even call the mf a ‘spy’ (which the characters perceive as the  main villain)... i don’t think the mf is  actually villainous but that’s off topic).The point is narratively equating spying as something ‘wrong’ by characters our main cast of heroes is against. But having that same cast of heroes partaking in spying themselves … specifically on to their romantic partners- and not also showing it as a negative. But romanticizing it? Would be quite hypocritical. And a HUGE narrative oversight.

Also build up?

S1- mileven kiss right after el asks if he’ll be her “friend” or “brother”. Has others compare el to mike’s sibling /cousin. Hint Will is gay . Have hints mike is queer too/ and cares deeply about Will. Constantly mention how el physically resembles Will/a boy. Parallel mileven to ted/Karen who were “never in love”. Have Nancy and mike verbally compare the jancy/stancy love triangle to mileven/byler . And at the end of the season mike writes a story for Will that likens the 2 to han/leia. Flo says about jancy/Jon “ only love makes you that crazy and that damn stupid”. (Which flo wasn’t entirely right about since jon punched Steve for insulting his family- for Jon it was familial love -not romantic love. But put a pin in that phrase)

S2- was pretty much byler season (and mileven barely interact that season). Byler say they’d go “crazy together”. But el’s new catchphrase is she’s “not stupid.” They Compare mileven to luke/leia (siblings that kissed) . Ref ghostbusters and parallel byler to the romantic pairing of Dana /venkman (but have el just be a ghost and mike a ghost buster which isn’t romantic but the opposite) .parallel mileven to hopper/el. Have el spy on mike, el hurt a stranger cause of unhealthy jealousy, have mileven dance to a song about a possessive spying/Stalking ex gf . Throw in mileven burns like “they’re not in love they’re not even from the same planet.” (El being et ref) . Have mike say annoyed “a bond ?! (Scoff) cause you shared nougat?! “ (egos like s1 ) “. Mike saying after knowing max for a week “hate you? I don’t even know you?” (He knew el for a week too so no way he loves her -cause he doesn’t know el , just like max ) . mike even criticizes his friends’ instant attraction to max saying “you haven’t even spoken a word to her.”Dustin saying “ I don’t have to . I mean -look at her.” Which makes it even more suspicious that mike was into a girl who multiple characters said looked like a boy (specifically Will) in s1. Have El watch a soap opera (all my children) and mimic the scene of  erica kane and her love interest michael. Which in the soap opera-isn’t endgame, and ended with some stalking after their breakup.

S3- mileven is finally dating : multiple characters (lucas, Will, Hopper, dustin,Max, etc) in the show dislike and verbally complain about them together . In cheers all of sam’s friends hated him dating Dianne and would vocally complain about it (similar to joyce they even clapped/cheered after 1 of their many breakups) . Mike is horrified by the spying(that mileven fans romanticized in s2) , el is happier single and neither is heartbroken over the breakup. They date for 2 eps and then breakup . Mileven being together inhibits El’s character arc from s2 (aka she went from wanting to explore the world and leave the cabin in s2 to see her friends, to ignoring her friends and cutting herself off from the world in order to stay in the cabin all day to make out with mike for 6 months - she would literally lie to her friends about curfew to return to the cabin and kiss mike -going against her ‘friends don’t lie’ mantra from the past 2 seasons too ). Mike canonically doesn’t trust her / doesn’t believe in her ability to make decisions and lies to her and never apologizes for lying. And el doesn’t apologize for spying . They throw in more gay hints of mike & Will. Mileven is called “bullshit” like s2 stancy . And Both pairings in the show kissed a bunch and said “I love you” (but they weren’t endgame). They also contrast s3 mileven scenes to s2 byler scenes and have byler win out. And once again parallel mileven to hopper/el and Karen/ted. As well as paralleling and likening Mileven to stancy in numerous other ways (besides the “bullshit “ line) . They also parallel mileven to stobin (both are straight baits) .They parallel the stobin confession to the mileven one -both confessions have them sitting on the floor, both girls have bandages on their legs, and both confessions are interrupted by dustin. Also both Steve/mike use the terms “crazy & stupid ” to confess to robin/el. But unlike Will who agrees to be “crazy “ with mike .El confused , asks “ what makes you crazy?” And robin says she didn’t have a crush on his “stupid hair”. el even says in reference to mike “there’s more to life than stupid boys.” Showing how el/robin don’t have romantic feelings for the boys-like the flo phrase of s1. Unlike Will who after fighting with mike calls himself “stupid” over and over and rips up the photo of him and mike where they promised to go “crazy together.” Even Steve says in s2 stancy should should “pretend to be stupid teenagers” in love. Emphasis on “pretend”. And when el says she loves mike “the first I love you” plays -the only other time that song plays in s3 is when robin rejects Steve (cause she’s gay.) cough cause mike is gay too.

There’s a lot more in each season (that illustrates mileven was built up -but not as a positive couple but a problematic one that was never was in love to begin with ). But I’m trying to keep this short . You can read this post here where I go in more depth about all of this .

S1-2 builds up the problematic ships (but showed good and bad aspects of their dynamic) . like the spying of jancy, lumax, and mileven or the jealousy. of Hopper in s2. In the s2 finalie they have them kiss or hug/exchange romantic glances. And in S3 we see the after math of this with all the couples officially dating - and they show all the couples issues at the forefront . I already talked about mileven. But, Lumax broke up 6 times (they dated for 6 months- and every month they dated max dumped him ). Jancy fight in the opening of ep 1 and don’t understand each others issues (sexism/poverty-and Jon’s issues with his dad) . And neither supports the other in their passions of journalism & photography.Nancy is also called “nancy drew” who in 1986 (year of s4) before going to college dumps her long term highschool bf (who helped her in many of her past mysteries/novels ). Their relationship was also shown as complex and somewhat dysfunctional because of both parties -before nancy drew dumps him. And (even if not dating like the other pairings) jopper almost go on a date in s3. Joyce was trying to hide the fact she was moving, Hopper was horribly jealous, and all they did was yell and argue.Murray says to joyce regarding hopper “he’s a brute... probably reminds you of a bad relationship” (aka lonnie/Joyce) . They even have Joyce watch a cheers ep- which directly compares jopper to (dianne/Frasier) who weren’t endgame in cheers but a rebound .  Hopper /fraiser both drink chianti . Fraiser asks dianne to marry him/Hopper asks Joyce on a date-both women stand them up. Or when Joyce asks Hopper out she calls her self ‘detective byers ‘and Hopper name drops miami vice. Which had an on and off again relationship for several seasons- of the male /female detectives.The relationship faded out as Gina realized they mainly got together when one or both needed someone. Crockett was very protective of Gina, and had some jealousy when Gina was involved in relationships , but was the first one to be there for her when things went wrong. And they realized it was better to not be together romantically. Heck seems like all these couples have negative film/tv parallels... lucas in s2 mentions not liking winston in ghost busters cause he came ‘super late’ (like Max). in s1 disses michael myers (which Max dressed as). And at the end of s3- lumax dress identically to eric/donna from a ep of that 70s shows (in the ep  eric/donna were broken up).

 (s3 was marketed as the “summer of love” and “summer love” is a euphemism for flings that don’t last.) s4-5 Will probably show good healthy ships/break up the problematic ones from past seasons .

So first 2 seasons focus on the unhealthy ships / and the last 2 seasons focus on healthy ships. S3 the middle season would be considered the turning point -and why none of the popular ships (assumed to be endgame) came off looking that great (compared to how they were presented in s1-2) .

[imaginedmelody]

I’ve been seeing a lot of people in the last few days who have some mixed feelings about Rachel’s storyline on Mythic Quest this season, since it kind of seems like the show is really picking on her. And I wanted to examine that a bit, because I think the writers are actually doing some interesting things with her character in the grand scheme of things.

Rachel gets a lot of pushback from the other characters for being “annoying,” and on the surface they often seem to mock her for being self-righteously focused on “social justice.” And I get people being sensitive about that; being vocal about issues facing marginalized or underprivileged groups is not a negative trait, and it feels dismissive to play it off as weird or embarrassing. But I don’t think that’s really what the show is making fun of her for. I think that was the entry point to establishing her character, and now- like with many of the characters this season- they’re going beyond her initial qualities of “shrill” and “annoying” and “SJW” to examine her deeper flaws.

Rachel’s real issue is twofold. First of all, she falls back on the “SJW stuff” almost to a fault. She is always ready to call out others for perceived slights against marginalized or underrepresented groups, but she honestly doesn’t have that nuanced an understanding of how those play out in reality, even if she can recite the socially-correct talking points. She doesn’t seem to really listen to people, or know much of anything about them. We’re seeing this play out a lot with Dana right now: the way Rachel doesn’t understand her remark about “working twice as hard to get half as far,” the way she gets so worked up about the correct dynamics of Dana’s possible sexual or gender identity in the lead-up to asking her out that she doesn’t just connect with her on a personal level. Even the way Dana clearly didn’t feel comfortable telling her about her decision to study at Berkeley shows that Rachel isn’t making space for Dana to share complicated or difficult things. She’s earnest, and she tries, but she just gets so caught up in optics and theories that she doesn’t focus on the complex, nuanced, real-life people in front of her.

And then the second thing I think the show is bringing forward as a flaw in Rachel is this: she’s become so consumed with seeing the world through these sociological dynamics that she has wound up with no clear sense of self. This is what Ian is constantly getting on her case for. She says a lot of stuff, but when it comes down to it- when someone actually makes time and space to listen to her- she finds she has nothing to say. She can say all the “right things” but they’re all broad, general statements, even when they pertain to demographics she actually belongs to. She starts half of her sentences with “as a woman/a woman in gaming/a woman of color,” but the statements that follow are generalities; she never has a personal experience to relay. Which leads her to these misfiring soapbox moments that don’t land because they’re not connected to her, only to things she purports to know more about than she does.

I even think this was the purpose of the joke in “Please Sign Here” about Rachel being half-Asian but not knowing any Thai. Personally I think that joke fails to land because it’s a little invalidating; people’s identities and racial/ethnic backgrounds are valid even if they aren’t able to perform them ideally or haven’t grown up with a connection to that culture. But I think the intent of the joke, however flawed, was to further display this quality in Rachel: her inability to speak from personal experience on a meaningful level, and the way it prevents her from orienting herself to the world around her beyond buzzwords and social principles. She has a women’s studies major, but no practical understanding of where she actually fits into the world (not as a woman generally, but as herself with her own unique experiences) because of it. And she has gotten so wrapped up in the historical and theoretical principles of inequality that she is unable to evaluate the actual inequalities (or opportunities) in front of her- and unable to imagine her own possibilities through her self-fulfilling prophecy of how the world will see and treat her.

This is why her best character moments are when she actually gives ground and listens to someone else’s experience. I love the scene where she teaches CW to play video games and he introduces her to the beauty of cutscene storytelling. It’s a prime example of how, instead of making an assumption about someone, she lets them show her who they are, and reaches out to communicate something about herself in turn. That’s the journey she needs to make- to get off her high horse, not by giving up her “SJW viewpoints,” but by integrating them with an understanding of the real people she encounters. And I think the other characters are right to call her out for needing to learn that lesson.