#i feel that is very acurate

[tiredflowercrown]

I want attention:(((

[pepperpixel]

got to see the total eclipse in person!!! heres some art commemorating that! cuz getting to watch 2 celestial bodies make out sloppy style was inspiring what can i say, also it was just rlly beautiful and cool and amazing to get to see ghg- but also! its like?? basically the moon finally getting the suns undivided attention... and thats got some vibes to it,, some energies... that i could not ignore lol.

[this-doesnt-endd]

Once again feeling haunted

[lynaferns]

I feel like people who insist and celebrate too much that "their fanfics and AUs" are now "canonically accurate" because they played Sun as passive aggressive from the beginning, are starting to drive a wedge in the community with their comments, especially when These are important figures in the fandom.

I've already seen someone "famous" mention that "I used to consider Sun basic and boring for just being the eager good guy" and wow, that disappointed me a little. If anything, Moon falls into the same "basic" category by being just "the bad guy," canonically speaking. But they are not pleasant things to read, are they?

I personally think that if Sun hadn't seemed so anxious, vulnerable and partially open/friendly in the beginning, he wouldn't be so many people's comfort character today. Because I highly doubt that his attitude in HW2 would have made so many people feel comfortable, not to mention that it would have surely stung them in one or another possible trauma.

I've been trying so hard not to insult anyone because I believe that good communication comes from respect and good manners but some people are pissing me off. (Not you anon)

Listen, those people can go fuck themselves with their stupid comments and their entitled opinions.

I'm also a follower of canon acurated and I see no reason in mocking people who don't follow canon. It makes me so mad reading comments laughing at people whose interpretation has been contradicted by canon.

If they are taking pleasure from seeing how some in the community are reacting to HW2 with sadness (which is a VERY understandable reaction and should NOT be made fun of) they are not worth your attention, they aren't worth ANYONES attention. If it makes you feel better block them and move on because you will be happier this way.

And those who say "I tHOuGhT sUn WaS bAsIc AnD bOrInG" clearly they didn't see through the characters. You could say exactly the same about any of the other characters. You could say exactly the same about ANY CHARACTER EVER MADE.

People are so fast at taking one single trait of a character and make it their whole personality like it's the only and true thing about them and if you thing otherwise you're wrong. "Oh but we have this other behavior of him shown before, this may just be another aspect of their personality-" "nope, I don't see that, that doesn't exist, this is the truth about your comfort character, suck it" fucking bullshit.

Kellen makes a great job at interpreting Sun's character, if you stop to hear all the voice lines you can see a lot of aspects of him, just paying attention to his voice. Everyone jumped so fast to the "Sun is a sassy mean bitch" train forgetting that: he was originally in theater, he takes care of kids, he tries to be nice to kids, he probably gets criticized daily by parents and employees so there's no reason for him to be constantly nice to everyone, he is tired, like seriously, if you listen to his voice lines half of them sounds tired and trying to smile trough it but at the verge of exploding.

We don't even know how Sun and Moon are when they are alone.

I personally don't think the interactions in HW2 are canon events in the lore, it wouldn't make sense.

I'm so sorry that y'all are going through this. Don't let people's shitty comments get to you, ok? Go read your comfort fic or reblog that old piece of fanart that made you giggle and kick your feet the first time you saw it.

(EDIT: read the reblogs)

[beetlewine-art]

The Sides and their animals: Part 1.

I've been thinking a lot about the use of animal symbolism in Sanders Sides, so i wanted to make a short post to analyse the animal symbolism of the main characters, wich i decided to divide in 3 groups of 2:

The "canon/strongly hinted" animal group: Janus and Virgil.

The "I am not 100% if this is canon but the clues are there, i'm just not sure wich animal in specific they are" pair: Patton and Remus.

And the "I have no idea wich animal those two could be asociated with because they have shown no animal traits or hints" duo: Logan and Roman.

This post is about the first group, because they are the ones who show the most animalistic traits and hints of what animals they could be asociated with, so i want to get the easy ones out of the way first. Also, this is a very, VERY shallow analysis, i'm in no way am expert in animal symbolism and i'm just talking in a very general sense.

Let's start with Janus and his snakes:

Janus is, with no doubt, the side who's animal symbolism is the strongest and best done, since his animal asociation is more than just an aesthetic choice, is literaly a part of him because he IS half snake and his logo is a two headed snake. Now, i want to remember everyone that animals can represent diferent and multiple things depending on what culture we are talking about. And snakes/serpents have some of the most dual symbolism, having both extremely negative and positive asociations:

The most negative: Evil, temptation, treachery, betrayal, bad luck, chaos, toxicity, destruction and death.

The positive meanings: Rebirth, life, change transformation, fertility, inmortality, healing, creative force, sexual desire, knowladge and protection.

As we see, this animal fits perfectly with Janus, because he is a very dual character both in what parts of Thomas personality he represents Deceit and Self-preservation, having a negative and positive role and his personality (Janus can pretend to be misterious and elegant all he wants, but he's just a giant goofball, even with his manipulative tendencies).

Honestly, it surprises me how his animal asociation is so well done, is rare to see a character who's animal symbolism is so acurate and well used.

Next we have Virgil and Spiders:

I want to first clarify that i've seen a lot of people with the HC that Vee's animal is a black cat, but i believe that as far as canon clues go, his animal is a spider. He has a pet spider and spiderweb pattern courtains and i am pretty sure we saw him decorating Thomas house with spiderweb in one of the endcards and, while not sure if it's canon, Virgil tries to give Roman a spider as his animal companion. The spider asociations are STRONG with this one, not to mention, spiders can hisss just like cats, so Virgil's tendency to hiss can also be spider-related. I feel that, while Vee does have a big "grumpy black cat" energy, that's more a part of his personality than a hint of his animal asociation.

With that out of the way, here are some meanings of spiders: good luck, creation, patience, persistence, self-awareness, grow, balance, curiosity, creativity, fate and rebirth. Also, they can be simbols of fear, anxiety, death, disgust and negativity (specialy black spiders).

Surprisingly, Spiders and Snakes have very similar symbolism. Despite being asociated with a lot of negative things and being seen in a negative light in modern culture, both have a lot of positive asociations (also, both are asociated with femninity... For some reason). Again, the asociation is very well done and it works well, because how what spiders represent and how they are percived. Also, what they provoque in people: A lot people fear spiders and get anxious when they see one. Again, similar to snakes.

Virgil doesn't show a lot of animal traiths like Janus does (other than hissing) and is more dificult to see the relation, but is still a very well done use of animal symbolism for a character, even if it seems to be more of an aesthetical use of symbolism.

Next part is going to be about Roman and Logan and what their posible animals could be, is mostly going to be expeculation based on popular Headcanons, because again, this two don't really show ANY animalistic behavior. So next part is just going to be me ranting about headcanons.

Tag list: @emomightmareace @pattonpattoff @roman-can-gay @dorkyduckling16

[cl0wn-tim3]

Iv put way too much though into an ace attorney au for dungeon meshi, and idk if this has been done before, but here's my take-

Chillchuck

Chillchuck would be a prosecutor - probably the Winston Payne of the au. He is smug and overconfident but loses his shit way too easily in court and lies/manipulates evidence (not that uncommon for aa prosecutors tbh but in a more overt way)-

Also he would need to stand on things to be tall enough to see over the table and I think that would be funny/ provide a good gimic for his character.

Marcille

Marcille would be the falsely accused but with kinda solid evidence for why they are being accused- she seems to have a proclivity to be in bad situations but I do not think she would actually kill anyone unless it was 100% valid and deserved + I think it was probably a wrong place wrong time situation and she was littraly just existing and found a crime scene and tried to take manners into her own hands wich made her 2000% more suspicious.

Laios

Laios would be a defense attorney that knows all of the material and what he's supposed to do in theory -but is over exited to use the knowledge and gets carried away and jumps to conclusions a bit to hastily

Falin

Falin would be the younger sidekick type characters that the aa protagonists always have that end up being very useful at keeping the protagonists (laios in this case) grounded and pointing out pretty obvious stuff they didn't get + her and marcellus can be childhood friends so in a case where marcellus is the defendant it can cause dynamics ++ her going missing could be an overarching plot

Kabru

Kabru would also be a prosecutor- probobly the main one- that kinda hated laios at first but they grow to kinda get along like they hang out outside of work but kabru still things he's a freak and keeps his work/confidentiality above there friendship (like a pheonix-edgeworth situation but with less gay undertones sorry laios x kabru enjoyers). He would be relitivly collected in the courtroom until laios said some unhinged shit that turns out to be correct somehow

Senshi

Senshi is the only one I can't figure out tbh I dont think he would be a prosecutor because that doesn't seem in character but I don't think he would be a defense attorney because he would think it's silly/not very affective- I genuinely just think he would hate the court system as a whole finding it unfair and under developed.

I could see him as a re-acuring side characters that comes up once in a while who just happens to be a key witness or comes to help in some way but idk.

Speed round for everyone else

- shuro is a witness that seems pretty confident in the testimony, and you only find contradictions on a technicality and/or small detail

- cithis is a prosecutor on par with von'carma (probably spelled that wrong) senior- aggressive and tries to end the case asap whatever the cost

- namari is a defense attorney that seems very put off at first but does what she can for her clients

- izutsumi is an unreliable witnes that ends up giving away vital info after being pressed enough

- mithrun barely survived an attempted murder and maizuru made you take his case

- sissel did a murder but feels justified (hell, he might even be justified depending on the case)

Plz note this theoretically would take place in an ace attorney style world that just happens to have multiple diffrent races so magic probobly would not be as common as in dungeon meshi but it's not off the table

[mandu-17]

Always been you | Kim Minnie x reader

Part 2

Requested by: Anonymous

Request: Hiii could you do an exes to lovers!au with Minnie from (G)I-DLE please? thank you (:

Warnings: Drinking champagne, one vulgar word, cheating

Genre: ANGST lovedwritingittho!!

Wordcount: ~ 3,624

A/N: just so you know both Lisa and Rosé are NOT idols in this scenario, Rosé is reader’s current girlfriend. enjoy reading and have a beautiful week:)

To many, Nicha Yontararak was known as (G)-IDLE’s vocalist - Minnie. But truth be told, she was far more beyond that. To Minnie, learning languages was a piece of cake. She was even good at whistling. A great dancer, gifted songwriter, promising actress, passionate pianist.

And most importantly, your first love.

Long before Nicha even began dreaming of becoming an idol, the two of you were best friends. Well, more acurately, it was the three of you against the world. Lisa was your shared friend from school. She even helped Nicha and you get together since both of you were utterly clueless about your true feelings for each other. Those were the days, you thought with a melancholic look in your eyes. Careless and beautiful. Everything was way easier back in school. The three of you used to hang out daily after classes, do homework together, watch silly tv shows.

After Nicha left to Korea, nothing changed between Lisa and you. If possible, you got even closer in order to heal from losing a friend. Nicha was incredibly busy with trainee lifestyle and then soon after debuting it was a rarity when she’d have time to reach out to old friends. Lisa stayed in touch with her though. Despite everything, their bond was solid enough to last. You, however, weren’t that strong.

Long distance relationships never appealed to you. Nicha had to accept your point of view, she was aware that leaving Thailand would be equal to losing you. Obviously, the decision was probably the hardest one she ever had to make. It took her long weeks of overthinking and sleepless nights. Many difficult conversations had to be done before the two of you officially said your goodbyes. It was heartbreaking for both of you especially considering how young you were back then.

Nevertheless, it made you who you are today. Everything happens for a reason and breaking up with Nicha was necessary to make you stronger as a person. It led you to your position right now. With a stable job, new apartment and lovely people in your life you really got to forget all the pain you went through during that period of time.

“You ready?” Besides, you still had Lisa.

She never changed, you smiled at your reflection in the mirror. Still had that amusing habit of walking inside your home without knocking. Frankly speaking, she spent around half of her time at yours.

“Almost, yes.” You straightened your shirt as Lisa joined you in the bedroom grinning from ear to ear.

The reason behind that smile was the fact that Minnie and her band mates were currently on tour with few days off in Thailand which presented a perfect occasion for a ‘small get together’ as Lisa called it. She was so excited about Minnie visiting home, she drove in the pouring rain in the middle of the night straight to you so she could pass the message in person.

It had been an adorable sight, her eyes shining so brightly while her whole body was drenched from the rain. Although a part of you was very hesitant about going. You couldn’t remember the last time you actually saw Minnie, sure she was on numerous billboards all around the city, here and there on the tv. But being in the same room as her? Talking to her? And about what? What if it’d be weird? Would it be awkward? Probably.

Truthfully, you were afraid of facing her after all these years. Afraid of what you might feel while seeing her up close.

From what you saw, she’s gotten even more beautiful nowadays, more confident. She grew up to be this attractive celebrity - what if she changed? What if her feelings for you changed as well?

You could go on and on about what ifs, luckily Lisa was there to calm you down. She truly insisted on going. She promised that Minnie was the same sweet girl she used to be. You saw it in Lisa’s eyes. It was important to her that you’d go too. She announced that without you, she wouldn’t go either.

To ease your stress, Lisa even suggested you asking Rosé to go as your date.

Rosé was your new girlfriend, it’d been around three months since you became official. You met her at work as she was sent in delegation from Australia. It clicked immediately. Rosé asked you out. First it was coffee, then dinner, later she needed a guide around the city. Admirably, she was able to keep finding new things she might have needed your help with. Language barier was her most often used excuse. That’s how much she cherished your comapny. After many dates, she had the courage to let you know that she liked you more than a friend. She fell in love, she admitted.

Your relationship with Rosé truly made you see colors again. With no doubt she was a wife material, the sweetest soul you’ve got to known. Her family was also very fond of you. They kept thanking you for taking care of her in a foreign country. It was painfully clear to see how much they missed her. Rosé also never hid her homesickness from you. So when she told you about going back to Australia for her mom’s birthday, your heart jumped out of joy. With your relationship still fairly new, there was no pressure for you to go with her and meet everyone. There would for sure be many other opportunities for that. In fact you wanted Rosé to spend this time while fully enjoying her family’s presence. Only later did you realize that it’d be the exact same weekend that Minnie was organizing her get together.

So, now you were screwed.

Of course Rosé, being the wonderful woman she is, was ready to cancel the flight and stay with you. Sometimes she was impossible. You had to physically drag her to the airport to make sure the gifts she bought didn’t go wasted.

With Rosé away, Lisa became your only lifeboat.

“You look great! How are you feeling?”

“Very nervous, let’s just get this over with.” You sighed loudly.

“Relax, Y/N. An hour from now you’ll be tipsy and just having fun.” Lisa wiggled her eyebrows while dancing with her shoulders.

You did not have it in you to ruin her mood. She deserved to be happy, you wanted to see her this lively as often as possible.

“True, that’s a very realistic scenario.” You raised your index finger up to her while agreeing. “We should probably get going.”

With a giggle, Lisa helped you pack most important things to your bag before you were finally able to leave the apartment.

The contrast between your silhouettes was hilarious, anyone could put an imaginary line between Lisa and you. She walked in happy skips, her hair were bouncing up and down her shoulders - everything about her screamed ‘excited’ and ‘ready to party’. On the other side, you were walking very slowly, the feeling of your heart rapidly beating in your chest made you sigh heavily from time to time. Although, you had to admit with a ghost of a smile, a little part of you was looking forward to seeing Minnie again. A little ray of hope made its’ way to your mind trying to convince you that tonight was going to be eventful.

In the elevator with cozy music playing, Lisa and you were chatting freely about your days when your phone dinged announcing that you got a message.

Corners of your lips raised when you saw Rosé’s selfie - she wanted to show off her newest purchase which happened to be matching Minnie Mouse hoodies.

You gulped thickly. What a funny coincidence.

~

Nothing really changed in Nicha’s family house. It remained looking very classy and elegant. Now the living room full of wooden accents was crowded, especially around the piano that was busied with Nicha and her mom playing cheerful melodies. (G)-IDLE’s members were trying to sing along, other guests and Minnie’s family clapped to the rhythm.

Lisa and you arrived fashionably late, but seeing the heartwarming scene that welcomed you, you thought it was probably worth it.

“Lisa! Y/N! You’re finally here!” Minnie’s dad was the first one who saw you entering the room. His hair got far more grayer, you quickly noticed although you worried nothing after he sent you that same, warm smile of his.

His words made many heads turn to look at you curiously. By the corner of your eyes you spotted few people whispering between themselves, but for you time stopped the second Minnie looked at you.

“It’s been so long since I last saw you!” Her mom beamed before approaching the two of you with her arms widely opened. “Lisa, how are you doing?”

Firstly, she embraced Lisa which gave you a minute to clear your head. It certainly didn’t work when you noticed Minnie not taking her eyes off you on her way to greet you as well.

“Y/N! I missed you so much, how are you?” Minnie’s mom crushed you in a warm hug, she always treated you and Lisa like her own children. Heart of this woman for sure was made of gold.

Minnie’s dad didn’t even let you reply as his arms wrapped around you tightly, it seemed like he also missed you deeply.

“I’m good, it’s very nice to see everyone again.” You smiled at the parents while also addressing Minnie’s brothers. Long ago they all were your family. You forgot how much they cared for you and how easy it was to just be yourself in their company, in their home. For some reason, you fitted there incredibly. They were your people. Even after all this time, you were able to feel their warmth and kindness towards you.

“You grew up so fast. We’re very proud of you.” Minnie’s dad got you melting with his words and that friendly glint in his wife’s eyes had your knees go weak. You wished to keep talking to them for the whole evening, but it turned out you became one of the highlights of the event. Everybody who already knew you from times when Minnie and you were dating, was eager to catch up with you or at least say ‘hi’. It was quite enjoyable, a bit weird feeling overall, but at least you were able to ignore the reason of the whole get together for some more time.

You knew you’d have to face Minnie sooner or later, but the fact that you could delay it brought you some sense of comfort.

She knew what you were doing.

Not only did Lisa betray you and straight up exposed your discomfort to Minnie while texting on the way here, Minnie simply still remembered your habits when being nervous. And now it was hard not to notice the way your eyebrows kept furrowing from time to time or how much you gesticulated while speaking about non-complicated things. So when Minnie finally saw you getting yourself a glass of champagne alone, she immediately made up her mind.

“Long time no see, huh?” The way your whole body stiffed was so visible, she almost smirked.

“Minnie, hi. How does it feel to be back?” You turned around to look at her for the first time this closely. Divine, was the only word that could describe her evenly.

“I’m very happy to spend some time with friends and family.” Minnie stepped closer in order to also grab a glass of expensive drink. She then raised it up to make a small, intimate toast with you.

You gulped at the sudden proximity and how Minnie leaned in to nearly whisper in your ear. She was still using the same perfumes, you realized, feeling brave enough to eventually meet her eyes.

“I’m glad you came, Y/N.”

Nothing changed in the way she was looking at you. That precious glint that was in her eyes once ago, was still present. She smiled innocently, as if she had no idea about her impact on you.

You have a girlfriend, you idiot.

Rational voice came back. Although, it was unachievable to think about anything else while being this close to your first love.

~

It was a terrible mistake to come here.

Wherever you glanced there was a piece of old memories embracing you. Paintings on the wall, blankets, your favorite cups, even the sight of the garden itself was reminding you of your home dates with Minnie. When her parents worked late and she invited you over. Her brothers often spent time with you as well, all four of you playing cards and board games. There were also many times when Lisa joined for sleepovers or long movie marathons.

It was overwhelming. Slowly becoming too much. You felt trapped in your own nostalgic mind with nothing to ground yourself with. You tried so desperately to think about Rosé, praying that she was here with you to squeeze your hand. She was way too good for you. Your emotions that night proved that you did not deserve her.

Your arm was slightly shaking while getting the third glass of champagne and it certainly was not the alcohol intake. That’s when you heard it.

River flows in you.

The first song that Minnie played for you.

The song that Minnie used to ask you to be hers.

The last song she was listening to before leaving Thailand.

It was your song.

You turned to the piano, Minnie was playing it effortlessly. Delicate notes wandering around the room made everyone admire her talent yet again. There was this sad frown on her face. It was killing you. Physically, you couldn’t catch a breath. You felt like crying.

Then you suddenly felt someone wrap their arms around you from behind.

“Remember when we used to dance to this song?” Minnie’s mom smiled against your shoulder blade causing you to relax.

“Beautiful times.” Your hands joined hers on your waist, while she swayed you left and right.

It was often exactly like this. Minnie playing, her mom and you dancing or rather her teaching you how to dance properly. If Minnie’s dad was around he’d usually take photos of you three or took care of the fireplace. So simple yet so meaningful. Just like the embrace you were currently in. Warmth radiating from Minnie’s mom eased your anxiety while soothing you. She just knew what to do. She always did.

You turned around once the song came to an end in order to thank her for the dance. You bowed your head to her before exchanging small but important smiles.

“Y/N, you’re still my favorite.” She winked at you.

“Mom!”

Both of you glanced at Minnie who just approached you. She shot her mom a stern look, warning her not to make things worse. The older woman chuckled.

“We’re not together anymore.” Minnie clenched her jaw.

It hurt when she said it.

“I think I should go.” You saw Minnie’s mom open her mouth. “I’ll just go find Lisa first.”

Hurriedly, you walked over to the couch where, as you assumed correctly, Lisa was animatedly talking to one of Minnie’s members - Yuqi. This emotional rollercoaster had to end. This was enough. Far beyond to the point you already felt like a piece of shit laying in the pouring rain.

“Lisa, we’re going home. Come on.” Your friend eyed you oddly, she was in the middle of a certainly entertaining conversation with the Chinese woman. With her arm resting on Yuqi’s thigh, she was definitely comfortable and not ready to leave.

“The party’s still going, though. Look, Yuqi and I are having a lot of fun. You should join us-” You knew that tone perfectly. Lisa was way too drunk now to go home. She was at the peak of enjoying herself. Thankfully, you knew you didn’t have to worry about her safety that much because it was usually the point when she’d stop drinking and feel the alcohol taken in by now. “I’m so tired. What time is it?”

With a defeated sigh, you glanced at your lockscreen. Rosé’s smiley picture was staring back at you. You were disgusted with yourself.

1:53 AM.

“Almost two in the morning.”

“How about you two stay the night?” Yuqi chimed in with a nervous smile. When you made eye contact, it seemed like she could already feel your conflicted vibe and didn’t want to make the situation worse. As a matter of fact, Lisa and you were introduced to all of (G)-IDLE’s members earlier that night. Although, you weren’t sure if she knew about what your history with Minnie was. “It might be dangerous to go home with this sleepy cat.”

“Yes. Let’s sleep here, Y/N.” Lisa’s eyes shut the moment she put her head on Yuqi’s shoulder. “Minnie will cuddle with you.” She mumbled quietly, so it was only Yuqi who chuckled.

“They’re right.” Minnie spoke from behind you. “I think it’d be safer if you stayed.”

She gulped when you glanced her way. You looked exhausted with your lips pressed into a thin line and furrowed brows, on top of that your skin was very pale. To Minnie, you were perfect. She always admired your physics not mentioning how in love she felt with your personality. Even that quick eye contact with you had her heart racing.

If she could only turn back time.

The very first thing she’d do, would be not losing you. Not breaking up and surely not giving up on your relationship. She’d never let go. You deserved someone to fight tooth and nail for you - sadly, she realized it way too late. That Rosé girl better treat you right, Minnie suddenly thought remembering the name from her conversation with Lisa.

“Okay. Let me just get a breath of fresh air.” Tiredly, you dragged your feet to the garden.

Thailand’s hot breeze filled the surroundings making it easier to breathe in and out. You kept your head up to the night sky, the stars were outstanding. They competed for your attention with the lovely panorama of the whole city. Diving deeper into the garden, your nostrils were pleasantly taking everything around in. The flowers blossomed, they added a refreshing feeling. Finally, you sat down on a bench made of stone.

Your thoughts were getting clouded, you began wondering why on Earth did you get to this place. Not garden, specifically.

But this huge hole in your heart. You were shaken up at the idea of Minnie making you feel so many things despite not seeing her for so long. You had a girlfriend, after all. Rosé would be very disappointed.

A sudden loud thud followed by the sound of glass breaking made you jump in your spot. You quickly got up and found out what caused it.

“Great.” Minnie groaned annoyed with a box dropped on the floor. Champagne bottles flew out of it and two of them shattered into pieces. She was crouching down in order to put remaining complete bottles back to the box.

“Hey, be careful.” In a moment you were crouching in front of her, ready to help.

Minnie’s eyes were studying your features deeply before she sighed, aware of how the circumstances appeared to be. “I swear I’m not following you.”

You cracked a smile.

“I know. I’ll bring the broom, do you still keep it next to the trash containers?”

“Yeah, it’s still there.” Minnie would never dare to think that you’d remember such random thing about her house.

She chuckled to herself as she watched you round the corner. Her guts were telling her that it was like fate was screaming at her, laughing in her face.

'This is your person! Get them!'

Minnie wasn’t sure she’d be able to get over you again. It took her literal ages last time and as it seemed - she was still down bad for you. Why was it so complicated, she kept asking herself.

You came back with a broom only to immediately sweep the mess she caused. She was convinced you were her angel all along.

Unsurprisingly, no one noticed the accident. You were located in a part of the garden that provided a lot privacy, away from the windows and doors. Besides, everyone inside was still having fun, not really caring about anything outside the walls they were in.

“Y/N.” Minnie called, determined to let you know the truth. The whole, painful and uneasy truth.

You nodded for her to continue, while keeping your focus on the glass you were cleaning up. But it wasn’t enough for Minnie. Maybe you were afraid of meeting her eyes, you only did so a handful of times that night. And it frustrated her to no end. Slowly, she felt her self control decreasing.

So she stepped closer to you, craving your eyes on her.

You blinked at the sight of her shoes entering your field of view. With a gulp you raised your head meeting her puzzled expression. Minnie wanted to say something, but she had no idea where to even start. Distant chatter of the guests inside disappeared, you kind of forgot about the broom in your hands too.

It was a silent, long eye contact.

The tension in your body didn’t allow you to to move or inhale for that matter. You froze under Minnie’s incredibly intense gaze. Without any words, she managed to send you the message.

Her poor, fragile heart in palm of her hand.

Don’t do it.

Don’t you dare. You glanced at her lips.

Don’t even think about it. Her eyes already said yes.

Don’t do it.

You kissed her.

[palmviolet]

Hii, not wanting to seem weird or bother u, but what happened to Parallel Lines? It was a work in progress of yours and It was steddie so maybe thats why u never finished It, but did It have anything cool in It, i love music aus even more If theyre in the 70 with lots of acurate facts 😭😭😭😭

omg... parallel lines... i'm so pleased you remember that lmao this made me go reread the 5k or so words i had written for it. i'm afraid to say i'm not all that pleased with them (given my style has changed a huge amount since 2022) but the base ideas are so much fun — steve as an ordinary guy who put his passion for music behind him at his dad's behest, dating nancy the rolling stone reporter who interviews eddie munson, top of the world as the guitarist/frontman for marchwarden, a huge hard rock band with a three-day residency at the roxy to kick off their third us tour. nancy brings steve along backstage; steve and eddie hit it off. they spend the whole tour talking over the phone; when eddie gets back to la, things evolve.

the idea was that the fic would span three volumes and several years. this all begins in 1976; by 1978, they're broken up and eddie is living in london having written a breakup album, including the song 'parallel lines.' this of course is not the end of the story: steve and eddie get roped back together by robin, who's an up and coming artist under the same label as eddie, management attempting to make them each other's beards, trying to convince steve to join her band. they meet again at the marquee club in london when eddie gets her a supporting gig there.

steve eventually gets into music himself, at the perfect time for the ascendancy of synth in the late 70s/early 80s and the decline of the golden age of rock — steve on the way up and eddie (relatively) on the way down. add to this queer culture, love songs with the pronouns changed (or not), and david bowie. steve as a solo artist names himself vanity; robin's band (which includes max) is called giraffe; eddie's is marchwarden (as i was going for a more 70s vibe, led zep style, vs. corroded coffin as a very 80s metal name). at some point nancy starts dating photographer jonathan, probably breaks that off and winds up with robin instead. eddie's manager is lonnie until lonnie turns out to be a piece of shit. everybody's lives are tangled up together and it would have taken me years to write lmao

so yeah. i will not be writing this, probably, given the steddie interest is lingering only long enough for me to finish better by you and no longer. which is a shame, but c'est la vie.

thank you for reminding me of this! it's fun to talk about.

have the interview that would have opened the fic beneath the cut, anyway:

MW. So, let’s talk Parallel Lines. It’s quite different from the other songs on the album, isn’t it? Almost a surf-rock feel to some of the chords.

EM. Well, let’s not go quite that far… [laughing] But yeah, I guess it is pretty different. That’s not by design, necessarily, it just kinda turned out that way as a result of the lyrics and my idea behind the song.

MW. Which is…? I mean, it sounds to me like a breakup song, but that seems a rather simplistic explanation for a songwriter whose catalogue includes — expanding for the readers, here — an entire concept album about an evil wizard.

EM. [laughing again] Shit, well, thanks, Mick, I’m honestly very flattered by that. I mean, like, sixteen-year-old me, all teenage angst and growing my hair out of a really bad haircut, he would have died if he’d known I was writing a song about a breakup. Like, he’d totally have killed me! And maybe I’d deserve it! But, yeah, you got me, I wrote a song about a breakup.

MW. The lyrics aren’t simplistic at all, though, I mean, the mathematical concepts, the metaphors… I think it’s safe to say no one’s going to mistake this for your typical breakup song. There’s something almost hauntingly analytical about it. 

EM. Hauntingly analytical… yeah, I like that. It’s sort of an attempt to process something that happened in a way that doesn’t come all that naturally to me — or, I guess, to anyone. Who relates to a breakup through math, right? But if something totally alters the way you see the world, it’s like… a total paradigm shift. Sorry, more math speak. You wanna know the ironic thing, Mick? The person this song is written about hates math. Like, loathes it. Even more ironic, I absolutely hate it too. I had to call my friend at Caltech, he’s majoring in Physics, I had to ask him to check my math…

MW. [laughing] I’m impressed at your dedication to accuracy. So is that the point, then, trying to connect with someone in a language that neither of you understand or enjoy?

EM. Yeah, pretty much. I mean, that’s the thing with parallel lines, right? Never the twain shall meet. Always separate, doomed by fate, if I can put a horrible little cliché in there for you. Magazines love that shit.

MW. But they run side by side still, don’t they? Going in the same direction?

EM. There is that. 

MW. You’re famously reluctant to talk about this song, if I may say so, yet you’ve been incredibly generous with me — thank you! Is there a reason for that, or did you just decide that now’s the time?

EM. Now’s the time, I guess. Different country, different magazine. Maybe I’m hoping the person it’s about won’t see it, [laughs dubiously] if you can believe it — who knew I was such a coward? Had to cross the Atlantic before I could talk about a song I play to tens of thousands every night.

MW. Well, I’m honoured, whatever the reason. One last question on it, before we move on to that killer performance on Top of the Pops — I think you changed a great many British women’s lives with that one — any relation to the Blondie album?

EM. Y’know, I get asked this a lot. I mean, I’ll tell you the usual stuff: I have great respect for them as artists, the album’s great, the song’s unrelated, we just happened to release them within a couple months of each other. Debbie’s great, we caught up at the VMAs the other week and we’re totally cool about the title. But what I will add, since apparently I’m in a, um, confessional mood — something else ironic is that the person the song’s about probably prefers the Blondie album.

MW. Well, what can you do? Birds do like Blondie. 

EM. Sure. Sure they do.

— from ‘Eddie Munson: Parallels to the Past’ Interview by Michael Watts, Melody Maker, 16th August 1978

[strugglingatart]

So I posted this and people actually did care (exactly 2 but hey! that's enough for me! So here are my ideas of how I would/how I think they will stage the show, let's flaunt my scenic design degree baby!. Now a few caviats before I start:

I have only ever worked with scripted content before, of course I only did things I think will be possible BUT I'm not 100% on all logistics of this type of content.

These are all very rough sketches, I couldand still might do more acurate/detailed models and drawings and floor plans but wanted to at least post these/talk about them also I have so few correct measurments I cry

I am just a fan and also haven't been to the Madison Square Garden so I'm going off just the info and pics I could find on the internet and some assumptions both irl and in game

ok so obvi we will use the HELL out of the screens the venue has for close ups and more images in general

1) This is what I think they'll actually do: just a round table in the center with as many camera angles as possible so everyone sees everything and probably the same seating arangment, maybe some projections but those are harder with arena seating bc it could easily block ppls views

2) This is what I would do actually do personally: make the battle map and the minis on a larger scale (but not super huge) each intrepid heroe gets their own podium decorated to fit their character, Brennan obvi gets a podium as well but his is just NYC themed like an extention of the DM screen art

3) A bonus one: now, this will not happen because logistics and budget wise it would be a nightmare, but it would be SO COOL so I'm putting it here: so the whole "stage area" becomes the battle map, statues, like half a person sized, of the PCs that each intrepid heroe actually moves around(and they'd be rolling/having their character sheets on tablets so they're free to move) and Brenan has a slew of stage hands to move all his characters and all so it'd feel way more theatrical and you could use lighting to enphasize spells and it'd be so cool there is no drawing for this bc it's not realistic and in order for it to work as a drawing I'd need to know what the actual battle map IS bc it becomes the scenery and we don't know that

Shoutout to @queerpiratebrainrot and @blueberryblogger for saying they cared I actually had fun coming up with these and also with having to remeber they don't work from scripts was an interesting aspect that didn't make a diffrence on the finished ideas as much but did completely change my whole process

[roses-dreams-andthorns]

Hi Author-nim! Could you please do my request? If you don't want, you can ignore it.

If yes, could you please do GN!MC as Lock from "Trash of the Count's Family"?

(sorry if i have grammatical mistake)

Have a good day/evening Author-nim ♡

oooh! Is that a webcomic? Trey's never heard of it before but Trey will do their best! Trey did some reasearch beforehand so it should be acurate? if it isn't I'm very sorry! You didn't specify what characters to do, So I'll just do the Riddle, Azul, and Jamil if thats okay!

GN! Reader!

HE LOOKS SO CUTE THO!!! AWWWW!

Riddle

When he had first saw you, he figured you'd be just like Ace and Deuce, he was slightly correct, in a sense, as you weren't the brightest, and were quite naive, but when he spoke to you for the first time, he now realized you were more on the shy and timid side, you tried your best to follow the Heartslabyul rules, but you find it hard to memorize all 810 of them... the only one you only slightly remember well is "If you eat a steak on a full moon, a cat must play the violin."

He finds your naiveness slightly adorable, and how shy you get while speaking to him, because of this, he never thought that you had another side to you... Prior to Leona's overblot, during a fight with Jack Howl of Savanaclaw, you had entered your berserk mode and you shine out as a more delinquent like version of yourself, being stubborn and courageous, and insanely strong, you swung at Jack with your hands, which now had claws, your presense was threatening now, and he began to grow slightly scare of you... but after the fight you began to grow far too exhuasted to even move, Ace and Deuce carried you to the infirmary while dragging Jack with them so he could spill the tea on what the hell was going on with all the injuries happening around campus.

Azul

Oh dear... you poor, poor unfortunate soul... your naiveness is hilarious, falling for his tricks almost immediately, thinking he's trustable in the first place, but he also finds your shyness quite adorable, stuttering when speaking to anyone you come across like a shy little puppy... a perfect oppertunity for blackmail, pre overblot, he only saw you as a means for easy business, but post overblot, he's grown quite attached to you, praising you for your efforts and for helping him around the lounge, he feels so lucky to have someone as kind, yet so naive as you. He's at least lucky you've never used your berserk form on him, though the tweels say otherwise when reporting back to him...

Jamil

You're similar to Kalim... very similar. Besides the fact you can actually take care of yourself instead of relying on others, he first took advantage of your naiveness and weaknesses, luring you in to become a part of his plan to overthrow Kalim from his position as dorm leader, though it was quite difficult to get you under his unique magic, as you hardly ever make eye contact due to shyness, but the second you do, he's got you right where he wants you.

Post overblot, he treats you more like a close friend, if you're sick, he'll help treat you, you got injured and can't cook today? he's already got some dinner made for you and ready on your table. You do the same for him as well.

He only saw your berserk form once, and he never wished to again. The durastic change in your personailty and actions... he couldn't handle them well, especially since this was pre overblot. He had underestimated you and your strength. He still probably has a few scars and bite marks from when he fought you in full berserk mode, you tend to feel guilty about that, but he always says "No, no, I deserved it, really."

You always tell him to treat himself, and if he doesn't? You're treating him. You don't care how packed his schedule is, you'll deal with it later, right now, you're taking him to a nice resturant for dinner and treating him like a sultan for a day, which makes him quite happy.

[ladygoodomens]

I found this headcanon on tiktok, made by Clover (@hatziraphale on tiktok), saying that "As soon as [Aziraphale] could be alone up in Heaven, he broke down to his knees" and I imagined it very quicly. It's feel acurate for me. Aziraphale must feel very alone in his white empty office, far away from people and things he loves.

[inklessletter]

for that ask game: What is a Steddie daydream (fic you have in your head whatever you want to call it) you have frequently? I'm sure you have a nice handful to choose from but whats the main one you conjure up to have feelings™ before falling asleep? Do you often rewrite tiny portions nightly because the angst,etc, potential is too good. Or is there a scene you have stuck in your head that you just NEED to replay? What's it about?

Oh god. This one.

It will always be this one. Had I participated in the big bang, that would have been my fic to write (even if I had a very different idea before this).

The only reason I keep having this fantasy in my mind is because I keep dreaming about situations that could fit in this so perfectly. It is very much related to these twin pieces.

So I'm going to share a few highlights of what goes on my mind. This is gonna be cheesy and cringey, but let me expand a bit on this.

It is a summer fic. They decide to do this, ad they decide to take a trip to California, far away from Hawkins, just the two of them. Eddie suggested it, because he thought it would count as quality time together with no chance to go away and Steve agreed because it was fun and spontaneous. And it escalates to the point that they both feel like they've lost control, but before they reach that point, Steve and Eddie do things like:

Stealing a jet-ski (Steve's idea)

Skinny dipping in the night sea

Party crashing a wedding

A fake date with every cliché of the book

Sex in the nature

These are just a few. I keep having ideas of potential situations that would fit in this story so perfectly.

The problem is I want to write it, but I feel like I can't. I've started it many times, but I know my own limits here. I am afraid I won't be able to actually deliver what's on my mind as acurately. I am not a very skilled writer and I'm pretty insecure about my use of the language, so I'm also pretty slow. I just would love to write it, but I am aware that I'd need assistance. So much. I'd love to make art out of it, too. I know I would need so much help with this, and I don't really want to ask anyone, because people has enough on their plate, so I won't put anyone in such a position.

Writing this is actually making me so sad, it's stupid. I think it would really be a very enjoyable little thing to read, and it would inspire me so much to do art out of it, but... well, I think these "no true writer" issues are definitely in the way.

Maybe someday I won't feel like I can't anymore and write it. I'd love to do that.

[koijikido]

14 Associations: Koiji Kido 🔆

Thank you @shibaikyatto for tagging me ♥♥ I did this already but decided to update it a bit! ♥♥

______________________________________________________

🍃Animal: It's obvious - a rabbit. He is a rabbit with all his heart❣️

🍃Colors: Koiji enjoys all colors in generall but he has some favourites. These colors have a deeper meaning for him.

Red - no color is as present and intense as red. It is the color of lovers and fighters, it is the color of the highest emotions: power, fire and wild passion. Blue - represents gentleness, is calm through distance. At the same time, blue also represents clear prudence, objectivity, neutrality and clarity - this instills trust and conveys a sense of security.

Yellow - the color of the sun and light, it represents warmth, happiness, optimism and creativity. Yellow also symbolizes knowledge and growth as well as development, but also passing away, autumn and maturity.

Green - It stands for freshness, vitality and is considered a symbol of nature and fertility. Green evokes associations such as renewal, growth and freedom.

🍃Song: FAR ACROSS THE LAND | by Eurielle & Ryan Louder . This song represents everything Koiji has gone through. His long way after he left the Scatay Range, totally lost and broken inside to find a way to go on. But also his desire to maybe find a new life he always imagined. The lyrics are pretty acurate!

🍃Number: Lucky 7! Rabbits tend to bring luck. While he brings luck to all the others he is often chased by misfortune. So he likes the thought of a lucky number, that will have mercy with him.

🍃Day or Night: He loves both, but as he is a Viera with a special bound to the sun, he would choose day! Sometimes Koiji feels like the sun is shining from inside him and he can feel the warmth when he is with friends and people who are very important to him! 🔆

🍃Plants: calla, forget-me-not, lily.

🍃Scents: he loves fruity sents but also fresh clean ones!

🍃Foods: Fruits like strawberries, watermelon etc. But he also loves things like pancake, waffles and ice cream. He loves food in general because it makes him happy to taste all the different delights of the world. But the sweets and bakeries are just something special for him.

🍃Drinks: lime tea, coffee with a hint of vanilla, water (obviously). If we are talking about alcohol he likes more the mixed fruity ones. If its just pure burning fluid, he won't drink it.

🍃Gemstones: Blue Zircon! Zircon gemstones have the power to disperse negative energy and restore harmony and nature's calmness.

🍃Season: Spring - everything comes back to life, nature looks more and more beautiful, warm cozy temperatures, scents of flower and trees, happy feelings that grow and sprout. He loves it! Also it always reminds him that after the long cold and dark times, life and love will find a way to bloom again and again.

🍃Places: Nagxia • Koiji met @shibaikyatto the first time there, his soulmate and best friend. Well it was more like he found him and decided to care for him! Kugane • He owns a small apartment there. Also he finds it beautiful! Ul'dah • This is where he met Ruriiro. A wonderful man that saw him for what he was - a man without the title. Koiji fell head over heels for him, not knowing what that meant at that time.♥

🍃Eorzean Deity: Azeyma, the Warden.

🍃EorzeanElements: Light because he is a warrior of light. But also wind! It fits him the most as he is a bard and dancer in training, but fire or the "sun" is also connected to him!!

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If you are reading this, feel tagged! You made it to the end xD Feel free to tag me, so I can read yours ૮₍ ˶•⤙•˶ ₎ა!

[sour-sailin]

Hey, just dropped in to say that I luv your art and I love how you portray Fruk. They’re so cute 🥰🥰 Inlove with the power imbalance (I guess) you give them

SORRY ANON I SAW THIS LIKE WEEKS AGO WHEN YOU SENT THIS IN sometimes i read an ask and then react in my head and then my head shutsdown and i forget i didnt react irl. Im stupid sorry >_>

BUT TYYY TYSM it means so much to me that people like ny weird demented fruk... ❤ I feel like i dont even acurately convey all my thoughts about them because when i do write about them its bad and lacks depth (im a bad writer) and when i draw them theres just so much left unsaid about their dynamic that its like. Aughhh i never feel like im giving enough context? Anyways.

And yesss the fruk power struggle/eternal war is so so central to their relationship to me ❤ something about their whole forever enemies thing is very very important to me. They would not be the people that they are, able to put up appearances so well if they did not have eachother to fucking despise and spill all of their venomous thoughts and emptions onto. In my head they are constantly struggling with the facets of their relationship that are genuine and born of legitimate care for eachother and the facets of their relationship that are awful and detestable. Their bickering and their "i must make the other suffer no matter the cost" attitude have become so normal to them that they dont really know how to be kind to eachother anymore. Do they even want that. Idk. Itd be too much of a sequence breaker to settle and just let eachother be equal so it just doesnt happen ever. My perfect fruk is a fruk that isnt even a real relationship at all ever.

They suck >_< sorry i rambled i got possesed at mention of fruk. This probably doesnt. Make that much sense LOL

[pinkacademic]

“I’m Wicked Through and Through,” Wicked’s Elphaba and Internalised Racism

The musical Wicked has been a Broadway and West End hit for over fifteen years, telling the story of the Witches of Oz from before Dorothy fell out of the sky. It follows their school days, how they became involved in the political landscape of Oz, and most importantly, it tells of their friendship and love.

For Elphaba, who would go on to become the Wicked Witch of the West, it is also a story of how she became a scapegoat for the citizens of Oz despite her good intentions. Though there are many factors for her descent into wickedness, one that she can never get away from is how she feels about the emerald green colour of her skin.

Her skin colour causes other people that she encounters to stare, to laugh, and to fear, and it is an obstacle to acceptance that Elphaba tries desperately to overcome.

This is a story of flying monkeys and broomsticks, of witches and wizards and whirlwinds, but also of race and how it affects how a person is seen by others, and most importantly, by themselves.

She’s a Terror, She’s a Tartar

Wicked serves as a strong metaphor for external racism, as seen by how others interact with and view Elphaba, and it is no wonder that she might feel so negatively about her own colouration when she is faced so frequently with such attitudes. To begin with, her very birth is seen as “atrocious,” “obscene,” and “unnatural,” as stated in No One Mourns the Wicked, with her father crying “take it away, take it away,” and ingraining negative self-perception from the moment Elphaba was broght into the world.

It does not go away as she ages, and, as she arrives at Shiz, her fellow students call her “a terror,” “a tartar,” and the Ozian coinage of “disgusticified.” What is this Feeling continues to announce the entire student body’s “loathing, unadulterated loathing” of Elphaba with the only reason they have chosen to do so being the colour of Elphaba’s skin.

Finally, it is stated by Madam Morrible in an attempt to make a her an enemy of an Oz that “her green skin is but an outward manifestation of her twisted nature,” before at last calling her “the Wicked Witch.”

It is clear that Elphaba has every reason to feel thusly about herself when she faces a barrage of prejudice with the only exceptions being Glinda, Fiyero, and a rather complicated relationship with her sister Nessa-Rose

“Would it be alright by you If I de-greenify you?"

Elphaba spent her whole life internalising these thoughts and wishing to look like her sister and her peers. Upon meeting her Shiz classmates, she’s so used to years of silly questions that she introduces herself with pre-prepared answers that she was born this way and didn’t eat grass as a child. As Suzanne Lipsky describes internalised racism as “turning upon ourselves, upon our families, and upon our own people the distress patterns that result from the racism and oppression of the majority society.” Elphaba is exemplary of this definition, as she notes that she is used to he father ‘not being proud of her’ and her sister ‘acting ashamed’ as described in “The Wizard and I.” Except, even her own family are in her case part of her problem, as Elphaba is the only known green witch.

As The Wizard and I continues, Elphaba’s internalised racism comes truly to the forefront as she imagnes a scenario in which the wizard changes her skin colour to a non-green- or, more acurately, to “de-green-ify” her. She’s hoping that, because she is “so superior” in her magical abilities, that her appearance should match, showing how she feels inferior to her peers due to the colour of her skin, despite her impressive skills in magic. She equates it with ‘goodness’ also, foreshadowing the later association of the colour of her skin with wickedness as the musical.

The Milk Flowers

Elphaba’s internalised racism continues to be a prevalent issue in her life, even as she gains more acceptance through Glinda. Though Glinda resigns herself to being Elphaba’s “pal, sister, advisor” in Popular, it is after Elphaba has confessed that she believes it to be “[her] fault” that her sister Nessa Rose is “they way she is,” referring to her disability. As their father had his concerns that Nessa would “come out green” as Elphaba had, he encouraged the girls’ mother to eat milk flowers, which is believed to have caused Nessa’s premature birth and disabilty, and the demise of their mother.

While surely it should be clear that, if anyone is to blame at all, it is Elphaba’s father and not Elphaba herself, it was Elphaba who shouldered, and internalised the guilt for her whole life. Elphaba’s father, the governor of Munchkinland, expresses these views for all of Elphaba’s life, and, to take a brief pause for speculation: as an important political figure in Oz, the governor could have used his influence to spread or fuel existing prejudices- not to mention ableism against Nessa Rose which aids his discriminatory practises towards Elphaba. It should be noted that there is little basis for the accusation, other than the language used around Nessa’s disability being unfavourable, Elphaba’s treatment from her father, and his position in society according to the musical.

That said, the point remains that Elphabas home life was influential in her self-loathing and internalised racism.

One Short Day

In her lifetime of overwhelming loathing for herself and the colour of her skin, Elphaba has placed all of her hope in the Wizard of Oz, in the hopes that he won’t be “dumb” or “small-minded” like the Munchkins of Munchkinland, or the students of Shiz. By association, Elphaba falls in love with the Emerald City, a place where everything is a bright, glittering green. The musical makes the crucial visual addition of giving green sunglasses to all of the dancers in the Emerald City scenes. They would never even notice that Elphaba is green if they are seeing everything through carnation-tinted glasses. Instead of discrimination, Elphaba is greeted only by the hoi polloi of the Emerald City, where “it’s all grand” and “it’s all green” as she exclaims with joy.

One Short Day is the heartbreaking turning point in Elphaba’s life as it represents both her highest high and the pivitol descent to Elphaba’s supposed Wickedness. Elphaba gets to walk through the Emerald City, surrounded by green buildings, green dresses, and green-tinted sunglasses. The citizens welcome her and guide her to Wiz-o-mania, and she and her best freind Glinda sing together: “I think we've found the place where we belong!”

But it after that song concludes and Elphaba meets the Wizard as she’s been dreaming of “since birth,” that her world comes crashing down around her and she is set off on the journey that exposes the truth of the oft-quoted statement “one man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter.”

Let all Oz be agreed, I’m WICKED Through and Through!

Elphaba’s internalised racism, blended together with the outward racism of her peers in Act Two, which opens in Act Two when we learn of the propaganda that has been spread since Elphaba’s last defiant stand in Defying Gravity. Citizens of Oz sing that Elphaba is “ev'ry day, more wicked,” and that ev'ry day, the terror grows.” It is made clear that all of Oz has upped their racism ten-fold, claiming that she is “spreading fear where e'er she goes.” And actually, the Wizard recognises the nature and danger of spin in Wonderful, noting “a man’s called a traitor- or a liberator […] it’s all in what label is able to persist.”

Unfortunately for Elphaba, the racism of others has lead the label of Wicked to be the persisting one, and it is only at this point, the point of no return, that she uses it for herself.

In her desperation to save Fiyero from harm in No Good Deed, she transforms him, likely irreperably into the scarecrow as he is known from the Wizard of Oz. This is also after having turned Boq into the Tinman, and allowing Nessa to walk with enchanted silver slippers which will go on to be the last image that exists of her after her untimely demise. She feels at this point that she must be truly Wicked, as even when she tries to do good, she causes bad things to happen, saying:

“Sure, I meant well -well, look at what well-meant did,” and resigning herself to never do good again.

Although just one song previously, Elphaba makes an attempt to claim the word as having a positive connotation when she’s with Fiyero, the chance is gone.

The article 6 Signs of Internalized Racism (and How To Heal) from disorient.co quotes Steve Biko saying “the most potent weapon of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed.”

To me, this perfectly reflects Elphaba’s attitudes towards her own failings. She breaks the flow of her own spell in No Good Deed to shriek about how she feels it is futile, which, by my speculation, could have caused Fiyero to turn to straw, rather than her own inabilities. But because she has had such a negative view of herself her whole life, she does not consider herself able to save him.

Defying Gravity

But is there a happy ending for Elphaba? Can there be a way to overcome internalised racism for someone who has become a terrorist in her home country? Everything admittedly seems bleak when Elphaba makes Glinda promise not to clear her name, and leaves Oz, intending never to return.

Perhaps I am overly optimistic, but I wish to explore the routes through which Elphaba could find happiness again.

The previously mentioned article, 6 Signs of Internalized Racism (and How To Heal), lists six ways to heal from the trauma of one’s internalised racism. Of those, one that may have some applications for Elphaba’s life after the events of Wicked is number three: “Seek counseling and healing on our memories of internalized racism […]

As previously mentioned, Elphaba does have a brief moment of trying to reclaim her Wickedness in a positive light, which fits well with one of the example prompts as written by Suzanne Lipsky, “What has been good about being Black?”

Elphaba’s being called wicked stemmed only from her attempts to help animals who were being harmed by the Wizard’s schemes, and everyone who worked with him, such as Madame Morrible. Elphaba’s “road of good intentions” really was a road of good intentions. She was just a scapegoat because she threatened to undo the balance in society that had been following the Wizard’s lead since he blew in “on the winds of chance.”

If Elphaba could remember that, and learn to appreciate the good that she did, and realise that she did have “wickedness thrust upon her” as suggested by Glinda in the opening moment of the musical, then hopefully, she can heal.

I like to believe also, by pure speculation, that Elphaba and Fiyero, though having to live low as they are both well-known political figures in Oz… and one of them is rather uniquely green, they still managed to live a simple, happy life, away from Oz.

I also like to belive in the hope that Glinda rebuilt a more tolerant Oz, as the only other person who knew the truth that Elphaba was not wicked, but good. Perhaps they will reunite someday as two best friends should, and maybe they’ll even have more days in the Emerald City together as they deserved.

Conclusion

Wicked is as much about Elphaba’s internal struggles with the colour of her own skin and the stigmas that she’s had to face in relation to that trauma as it is about Elphaba as a witch of Oz. Internalised racism creates such a barrier in her own mind to what she’s capable of, and external racism is what sent her onto the path of so-called Wickedness in the first place. Elphaba is a perfect case study for internalised racism, as maybe the true Wickedness stems from racism.

Ultimately, Wicked is a highly political musical, dealing with propaganda and the complicated nature of what is wicked and what is good, and Elphaba’s struggles are a huge part of that.

It is up to everyone to fight their own prejudices, and build a space where wickedness can be reclaimed for good.

[carbonbasedmatter]

Kiki's delivery service is such an acurate depiction of burnout and growing up. Like as someone who's been through something very similar it spoke to me in ways I was not expecting.

From the very beginning Kiki feels like an outsider and is unable to understand why. All she knew was home and the people she already was close with. When she comes to this new place she immediately experiences a reality which isn’t so “cookie cutter”. She has to deal with all the problems of moving out and relying on herself at such a young age.

She decides to focus on her business almost using it as a distraction from all these new things she's feeling. She works so hard waiting and helping with the herring pie, going out in the rain missing her own party only to realize that the girl didn't even want it. The thing is ever since Kiki turned flying, a useful skill she was born with into her job to pay for her living expenses. She just can't enjoy it the same way she used to before. Kiki says "I think there's something wrong with me I make friends and then suddenly I cant bear to be with any of them. that other me the cheerful and honest one went away somewhere…" She tries so hard to force herself to go back to the way she was before and ends up breaking her mother's broom and stays up all night alone crying and trying to fix it The only way she is able to recover from this depressive state is by resting and taking time to make boundaries with herself and understanding why she does things, along with choosing to be herself. It’s so hard, sometimes you don’t even realize why you’re doing to feeling what you’re feeling or that you have walls up. I think by the end she just realized in some ways that taking a break, doing your thing, while working hard and experiencing life (good and the bad) can come in similar forms but different perspectives. By the end even though gets her magic back and is able to fly again she is not able to understand Jiji anymore. Jiji was like a representation of the "other self" Kiki mentioned earlier the childish innocence, the outbursts, the dependance on other people. She realizes she can't and doesn't have to be that person anymore and accepts that.